Pianist Walton Soars With His Own Sextet at Catalina

The new Cedar Walton made his debut at Catalina Bar & Grill on Tuesday. “New,” that is, in the sense that the pianist was leading his own sextet, performing a program of original compositions, and riding a crest of patronage from an aggressively supportive record company.

But Walton has been a first-rate composer, a dependable leader and a superb soloist for decades. What was new this time around was the opportunity to put it all together in a highly visible format. And he made the most of it before an enthusiastic full house.

The program was drawn from Walton’s new Astor Place album, “Composer,” with two of the recording’s performers--tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring--in attendance. The other players were trumpeter Philip Harper, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

Walton spent some early years with groups such as the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and his compositional view has clearly been affected by the experience. Pieces such as “Martha’s Prize” (written for his wife), “The Vision,” “Happiness” and “Groundwork” were filled with brisk, appealing melodic phrases, churning bass/piano counter lines and tightly clustered horn harmonies. Tinged with traces of hard bop, they were invigorated by Walton’s inherent capacity to write warm, communicative music.

His own soloing was, for once, the centerpiece. Too often, in recent years, Walton’s playing has been limited to appearing with other leaders or been placed within the sparse framing of his trio. Given the chance to take the spotlight with a full ensemble performing his own music, he revealed a style illuminated by a bright imagination. Many of his solos evolved from fragmentary bits of thematic material, gradually taking shape as Walton tossed in a whimsical quote or two from a totally different tune, energizing everything with a surging sense of swing.

His choice of players was excellent. Herring’s rich sound was reminiscent of Cannonball Adderley, animated by his own fiery, multi-note technique, and Harper’s lead voice was bright and brassy. Smith and Hurst worked, as they always do, with consummate rhythmic assuredness. But Moore may have been the most intriguing horn player, with a thoughtful ability to allow his lines to breathe and a full measure of that most essential jazz element--the capacity to surprise.

* Cedar Walton Sextet performs through Sunday at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. $13 tonight and Sunday, $15 Friday and and Saturday, two-drink minimum. (213) 466-2210.