Sax Man Joins the Caravan

A couple of weeks ago, I hit pay dirt, musically speaking. Bill Holman’s big band, my favorite, was playing on a Tuesday night at the Moonlight in Sherman Oaks and, by fate or by fluke, I got to sit up front, an arm’s length from the wonderful tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb.

Through the years, I’ve heard Christlieb--the Tonight Show Orchestra veteran who is one of the top tenor saxophonists anywhere--in all kinds of situations, from leading his quartet to playing with Holman or Frank Capp’s Juggernaut big band.

But that Tuesday was extra special: Being close up magnified everything, from the warmth and immensity of his sound to the raw, swinging power of his compelling jazz choruses.

A highlight was his sublime interpretation of “But Beautiful,” crafted for Christlieb by Holman as a crisp waltz instead of the usual ballad, and a Grammy-winner featured on the leader’s “A View From the Side.”

Since Christlieb is more often heard in places such as Denver or Sarasota, Fla., than in his hometown--he has lived in the Valley for about three decades--it’s good news that the tenor ace returns tonight to the Moonlight, ensconced in Capp’s quintet, which is appearing as part of radio station KLON-FM’s fifth annual Spring Jazz Club Caravan.

The caravan, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., is a moving jazz party, where for a single ticket price--tonight it’s $15--you can hear as many as six bands in the Valley. Attendees pay at any participating club, then go to as many venues as time allows, traveling on buses provided by KLON (or driving, if they prefer).

Christlieb, 53, has played with Capp for more than 20 years in the Juggernaut--recording on the band’s two most recent albums, “In a Hefti Bag” and “Play It Again Sam”--and, lately, in the quintet.

“Frank has a good-time feel and he’s easy to work with,” Christlieb said. “We sound like five guys doing big band arrangements.”

Though he’s really best heard in a small band situation, Christlieb has often been employed in large ensembles, from Woody Herman in the late ‘60s to Doc Severinsen’s Tonight Show Orchestra from the mid-’70s until the band left the show when Johnny Carson did, in May 1992. It was a job of a lifetime, Christlieb said.

“Johnny gave us a great opportunity to make a living playing and to get great exposure,” he said. “That big fat job put my kids through college, bought my house. There aren’t any more like it.”

Not exactly, but close. Christlieb, who is preparing to make his first solo album in more than a decade, reveres playing with Holman--”The best band in the world”--and his more-than-occasional studio calls, particularly for the soundtracks to episodes for UPN-TV’s “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

Christlieb comes to music naturally. His father, Don Christlieb, is an acclaimed bassoonist who played on the soundtracks to more than 750 motion pictures and worked with such modern classical giants as Igor Stravinsky. The younger Christlieb started as a violinist. Then, at about age 12, he heard jazz and wanted to play saxophone.

“Jazz was kind of a rebellious thing,” he said. “But I loved the fact that guys like Chet Baker and Zoot Sims were making it up as they went along, and it was happy music.”

* Pete Christlieb plays tonight, 8 to 1, with Frank Capp’s quintet as part of the KLON fifth annual Spring Jazz Caravan at the Moonlight, 13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 788-2000.

MORE CARAVAN: Besides Capp, whose group includes the young monster trombonist Andy Martin, the annual Spring Jazz Caravan will take you to hear the mainstream-to-contemporary sounds of pianist Don Randi and Quest, featuring vocalist Rick Jarrett at the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 980-1615; the ever-exploratory pianist and composer Cecilia Coleman at Jax, 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 500-1604; solid singer Gina Eckstine at Papashon, 15910 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 783-6664); vibrant pianist Karen Hernandez and her longtime vocal buddy, Jimmy Spencer, at Mr. B’s (formerly J.P.’s Lounge), 1333 Hollywood Way, Burbank, (818) 845-1800; and fine reed and wind artist John Bolivar and blues-driven pianist Billy Mitchell, who hold forth at Chadney’s, 3000 W. Olive St., Burbank, (818) 843-5333. Caravan charge: $15. For general info on the Caravan, call KLON at (562) 985-1686.

STRING FEVER: Allan Holdsworth, one of the most intense, and interesting, of contemporary jazz guitarists, first made a name for himself playing in the late drum great Tony Williams’ jazz-fusion band, Lifetime. These days, he’s working with a trio featuring acoustic bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Gary Husband and offering consistently enticing versions of originals and jazz standards. Catch Holdsworth on Friday and Saturday, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the Baked Potato. $10 cover, two-drink minimum.