An Evolving Style

A wealth of compelling jazz sounds, from the luxuriant to the exhilarating--fills the 1994 debut release of saxophonist Chris Greco’s “Trane of Thought.” The music, almost all written by the leader, sounds fresh and unique; it’s no throwback to yesteryear.

“I have respect for the past, but I also have to be committed to my time and place,” said the well-spoken Greco. “I’m constantly going through cycles of study, research, assimilation, and then there’s the time when what I have accumulated comes out.”

For Greco, an under-recognized name, one of those times appears to be now. The 37-year-old musician, who recently earned a master’s degree in composition from Cal State Los Angeles, is putting the finishing touches on a new recording that should be out this summer. “That album,” he said, “has a lot of exploring.”

Greco, who was born in Inglewood and now lives in Pasadena, performs now and then but makes the better part of his living as a teacher. He will appear tonight at Jax in Glendale, with his main goal to introduce the audience to his appealing style.

“I want to communicate my ideas to people,” he said, “to present jazz in a positive fashion to uplift people, help them understand its rich diversity.”

For this performance, Greco will bring along the superlative guitarist Larry Koonse, a colleague for about a decade; up-and-coming bassist Mike Elizando; and crisp drummer Kendall Kay. The band will play originals as well as standards.

“In my compositions, I combine all I know about jazz with my own ideas,” he said. “Out of that comes something else that I hope people enjoy.” In the standard realm, Greco pointed out Duke Ellington and Wayne Shorter as favorites.

“Duke was an absolute beauty,” he said, “and he had a great social demeanor, going all over the world with a smile on his face, saying, ‘Here’s some new music for you.’ ” Of Shorter, Greco said: “He has a mysterious abstract quality that I’ve always been drawn to.”

Though he started as a drummer, Greco switched to saxophone as a teenager and later studied with the renowned saxophonist Bill Green. Greco has appeared in most of the L.A.-area clubs, including Jax, the M Bar in Long Beach and the Atlas Bar and Grill in Los Angeles.

His attitude toward his music, he said, is wide open and critical.

“I’m an artist and, as such, always a work in progress,” he said. “I’m trying to refine my art, make it as beautiful and relevant as possible. Music that’s not played with care, involvement, engagement is, I feel, not worth listening to.”

* Chris Greco’s quartet plays at 9 tonight at Jax, 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. No cover, no minimum. Call: (818) 500-1604.

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Can’t Pick Just One: With singer and Glendale resident Bill Cantos, it’s never been either jazz or pop, it’s always been the two together. “I draw from both camps,” said the vocalist who will appear at La Ve Lee on Friday. “What I love about good pop is that it’s a continuation of the music of people like Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart. What I love about jazz are the wide-open harmonies, the chance to stretch out.

“I’m trying to find the best of both worlds,” he said. Take his new song, “Sweet and Lovely,” which he’ll debut. “It’s a dedication to Ella Fitzgerald. All the lyrics are about her, but the beat is contemporary.”

* Bill Cantos appears Friday at La Ve Lee, 12514 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 9:30 and 11:30 p.m.; $5 cover charge, two-drink minimum; (818) 980-8158.

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Quick Hits: The sturdy, eclectic guitarist Brad Rabuchin, who appears on Chris Greco’s “Trane of Thought” CD, enjoys adventurous jazz as well as excursions into the world of pop. He leads a quartet that mainly investigates the former at 8 p.m. Monday at Common Grounds (9250 Reseda Blvd., Northridge; no cover, $2.50 minimum; [818] 882-3666). . . .

When Phil Mallory lived in Santa Barbara about 20 years ago, he was an OK guitarist. Then he switched to stand-up bass, moved to L.A. and became one of the area’s most in-demand club players. Hear Mallory’s supple lines and smooth rhythms behind veteran pianist-vocalist Page Cavanaugh tonight, 7 to 11, at Monteleone’s West (19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; no cover; without dinner, $9.95 food/drink minimum; [818] 996-0662).