He’s Risen to Top by Playing at the Bottom

Most of us are striving like mad to get to the top, but Jack Nimitz would just as soon stay at the bottom--musically speaking.

Nimitz mostly plays baritone saxophone--a large horn from which he coaxes a pleasingly deep and oaken tone while playing long fluid lines that are rife with melodic riches. Those low notes, the ones that people like famed composer Johnny Mandel (“Shadow of Your Smile,” “Emily”) write for him in film and TV studios, he said, keep him quite satisfied.

“The bottom notes are the best notes in the whole orchestra, because if you don’t have a good bottom, nothing really works,” he said.

Bill Green, the wonderful saxophonist, died recently, leaving the nimble-fingered Nimitz as Los Angeles’ ranking jazz baritone sax star. He’s played with many giants over the years, from Woody Herman and Stan Kenton to Terry Gibbs, Gerald Wilson and Supersax, of which he’s a charter member. He appears tonight at Chadney’s in Burbank, as part of the KLON Holiday Jazz Club Caravan. Betty Bryant’s duo is also on the bill with Nimitz.

Nimitz brings along three of L.A.’s top jazz players for tonight’s show: pianist Tom Ranier, bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Joe La Barbera. “I couldn’t get anybody,” quipped Nimitz. The last two, along with pianist Lou Levy, perform on “Confirmation,” Nimitz’s first release as a leader.

The very listenable album is recently out on Fresh Sounds Records. The song list on the album--Charlie Parker’s title track, Miles Davis’ “Half Nelson,” Kurt Weill’s “Lost in the Stars,” Henry Nemo’s “‘Tis Autumn”--is similar to the be-bop and ballad-minded lineup he’ll call at Chadney’s.

“Be-bop is the most sophisticated form of jazz,” said Nimitz. “It’s very challenging, but very rewarding because it feels so good when it happens. When you get in the flow and are just playing and not playing licks, when you leave this realm and get into the realm of music, there’s nothing like it. And ballads, they’re just so pretty. They can tell a great story.”

Nimitz, 66, is a native of Washington, D.C., who has lived in Studio City since 1960. At about age 12, Nimitz said, he fell in love with the baritone sax. A teacher, who had one for sale, let him borrow the instrument.

“It sounded so warm and wonderful and nice and dark and rich,” he said. “Needless to say, at that time, I couldn’t afford one, my folks couldn’t either.”

When he was 20, Nimitz bought his first “bari,” as the big horn is called. He studied, played around clubs in Washington, and gathered a reputation that landed him with Herman in 1953.

By 1956, he’d played with Kenton and took part in Quincy Jones’ first recording, an all-star date called “This Is What I Feel About Jazz.” Many of the other players--bassist Charlie Mingus, alto player Cannonball Adderley, vibist Milt Jackson--were already established.

“I was intimidated,” he recalls. “For a young white boy, it was pretty heady stuff.”

When he arrived in California, Nimitz called people he knew from the East, looking for studio work. One was Johnny Mandel, and a bond was formed.

“I’ve done almost all his movies and albums,” said Nimitz, who at one point was playing six or seven horns, mainly baritone and low-range clarinets.

* Jack Nimitz plays Thursday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Chadney’s, 3000 W. Olive St., Burbank. No cover, one-drink minimum per show. (818) 843-5333.

*

Jazz Caravan: The other Valley clubs are also taking part in the KLON Holiday Jazz Caravan, which runs tonight from 8 to 1 a.m. You can hear blues-based guitarist Phil Upchurch at B.B. King’s, Universal City Walk, Universal City, (818) 622-5464. Be-bop-bent vibist Dave Pike and bassist John Leitham are on tap at J.P.’s Lounge, 1333 Hollywood Way, Burbank, (818) 845-1800. Swell alto player Lanny Morgan works with Danny Pucillo’s trio at Monty’s Steakhouse, 5371 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 716-9736. Easy-grooving pianist Don Randi holds forth at the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 980-1615. And Cecilia Coleman offers her robust originals at Jax, 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 500-1604.

Cost for the Caravan is $15, which benefits the nonprofit radio station and includes entrance to all participating clubs, as well as bus transportation. Tickets are available at each nightspot.

But because most of the aforementioned clubs don’t regularly enforce an entertainment fee, you may not have to pay one if you just drop in. Better call ahead. For Caravan information, call (310) 985-1686.

*

Short Takes: Pianist Pete Jolly’s trio of Chuck Berghofer (bass) and Nick Martinis (drums) have been together so long--30 years, off and on--they make musical moves with the grace of dancers. The silky unit works tonight, 7 to 11 p.m., at Monteleone’s, 19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; no cover; without dinner, $9.95 food/drink minimum; (818) 996-0662.

Since she packs both passion and power into her interpretations of classic standards, it’s hard not to be moved by singer Pamala Feener, someone who should be better known around these parts. She’s appearing tonight, 7 to 11 p.m., at Ca’ del Sole, 4100 N. Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood; no cover, no minimum; (818) 985-4669.