JAZZ REVIEW : Drew Festival Kicks Off With a Home-Grown Beat

Despite the inclusion of a few well-known outsiders and styles ranging from bop to reggae, the opening day of the Jazz at Drew festival had a definite West Coast flavor. Los Angeles-based performers, many with international reputations, predominated in the fifth annual fund-raiser for the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science held Saturday on the grounds of the King-Drew Medical Center.

This emphasis on home-grown talent and mainstream jazz performances gave the Drew fest a focus missing from such mass-attended events as the Playboy Jazz Festival. And the mix of straight-ahead sounds with more commercially oriented R&B; and contemporary styles recalled the days when L.A.’s Central Avenue scene of the late ‘40s championed be-bop but was fueled by rhythm & blues.

Sometimes both directions fell into one set, as when pianist Billy Mitchell and saxophonist John Bolivar played a bop-paced “Cherokee” followed by Cannonball Adderley’s good-time anthem “Jive Samba,” or when percussionist Ndugu Chancler played “C Jam Blues” on vibes.

But the best musical moments came from groups with the purest distillation of their direction. On top was pianist Cedar Walton, making his fifth Drew fest appearance, and his Eastern Rebellion quartet. With Albert (Tootie) Heath substituting for Billy Higgins on drums, the quartet crafted standards and Walton originals in its own, swing-heavy image.

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Walton, saxophonist Ralph Moore and bassist David Williams proved equally dynamic soloists, and were especially synchronous during ensemble play.

Saxophonist Dale Fielder’s quartet, with pianist Jane Getz and vocalist Lorraine Fielder, called up both to Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane during its strong opening set. Wide-toned vocalist Brenda Lee Eager, backed by an eight-piece band, paid tribute to Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and Sarah Vaughan.

Veteran trumpeter Harry (Sweets) Edison matched his fragile trumpet tones against the robust tenor sounds of Rickey Woodard. Surprise guest Shirley Horn did a short, three-tune set, barely long enough for the winsome vocalist-keyboardist to establish the intimate, after-hours mood for which she is known. Comedian Dick Gregory also made an unannounced performance. (Trumpeter Donald Byrd was a no-show.)

Though reggae godfather Joe Higgs seemed furthest removed from the scope of the program, his closing set, featuring Higgs’ pure vocals and a tight backing band working up socially conscious lyrics, seemed an apt closing for this family affair.