Wood Crafts an Outdoor Niche

Pianist John Wood has carried his crusade on behalf of American musical forms and live performance to many an unlikely venue. The 45-year-old keyboardist and founder of the Society for the Rehumanization of American Music has gathered audiences in hotel lounges, intimate recording studios and even his own living room, as well as in a number of Los Angeles clubs, in his attempt to communicate the joys of live music.

But his ongoing weekend engagement on the grounds of the Disneyland Hotel might be the most unlikely location of all. Set up against a wall outdoors between the hotel’s Coffee House and the entrance to its Entertainment and Convention Center, Wood’s trio plays for a constantly changing parade of passersby, drawing them in with familiar tunes, then turning them on to the joys of improvisational jazz.

Though a few patio tables afford a place to sit and hear the combo, they weren’t quite close enough for one pair of enterprising listeners, who grabbed chairs and moved in closer to the musicians during last Saturday’s engagement.

They weren’t the only ones paying attention. The usual course of a tune went like this: Wood struck up some familiar refrain, say Miles Davis’ “All Blues” or Vince Guaraldi’s “Cast Your Fate to the Wind.” Children, ranging from toddlers to teens, would be drawn to the sounds, stalling their parents in front of the group as Wood acknowledged them with smiles and facial reactions to his own play.

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By the time the trio returned to a number’s theme, several dozen people would have encircled the band. After much applause, usually led by the adults, the crowd would disperse, and Wood’s trio would start building a new audience with a different tune.

Serious fans of jazz were rewarded as well. Wood has worked with the cream of the jazz world, and his forthcoming album, “The Best of John Wood: Back to 2 Track,” includes contributions from saxophonist Joe Henderson, trumpeter Woody Shaw and drummer Billy Higgins, among others.

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The pianist is the son of Randy Wood, whose Gallatin, Tenn., record shop and complementary radio broadcast on station WLAC out of Nashville introduced white audiences to black jazz and R&B; back in the ‘40s.

The senior Wood, in attendance at his son’s performance last week, went on to found Dot Records. During that time, he introduced his son to some of the biggest names in pop music, from Elvis Presley to Lawrence Welk, not to mention a host of jazz giants.

That upbringing resulted in a deep respect for a variety of styles and a commitment to live performance that is apparent in everything Wood plays.

Whether doing Jimmy Smith’s “The Sermon” or Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow,” he gave each theme its due before improvising with a surfeit of attractive rhythmic and melodic hooks. Though seated at a poorly tuned instrument that had a sticking key, Wood made the most of it, working with a strong sense of flow and narrative direction.

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Wood received fine support from bassist Bob Maize and percussionist Kendall Kay, who seemed to share their leader’s sense of fun and commitment. The pianist promises a rotating group of bass and percussion players during the engagement (look for former “Arsenio Hall Show” bassist John B. Williams soon). The strategy should make every week unique.

Between sets, Wood is glad to talk to fans about his experiences and his beliefs regarding the evils of multitrack recording and music-awards shows.

But the heart of his crusade is his music, and here, next door to the Magic Kingdom, Wood has found a showcase that brings the enchantment of live music to young and old alike.

* The John Wood Trio plays the patio at the Disneyland Hotel Coffee House, 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, every Friday-Saturday, 6-10 p.m. No cover or minimum. Wood will be joined tonight by bassist Jack Bone and Father David Berzinsky (“the drumming priest”). (714) 956-6536.