Swinging Sextet Launches Latin Program at Rocco’s

It may not be getting as much attention as Ricky Martin’s latest swivel of the hips, but there is a growing cornucopia of Latin jazz around the Southland. This week, Rocco Ristorante in Bel-Air, a favorite destination for fans of young jazz talent, is beginning a program of regular Latin jazz on Friday nights.

The program actually kicked off Thursday, with a galvanized performance by the Banda Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet. Longtime staples of the local scene, the bearded Bandas--Tony on bass and Ramon on drums--are frequently heard with the Poncho Sanchez band. But their own ensemble has a distinctly individual identity, best typified by its capacity to move freely across a continuum of styles that ranges from straight-ahead jazz through a colorful variety of surging Latin rhythms.

The core of the Bandas’ performance Thursday, in fact, centered around the strikingly intuitive rhythmic interaction between the two brothers, augmented by the conga playing of Papo Rodriguez. Sometimes rushing forward with an Art Blakey-styled jazz momentum, they shifted easily into complex Afro-Cuban accents, climaxing with a collective trio of interactive, energetic gourd playing in an expanded, 6/8 romp through the Bronislau Kaper film standard, “Invitation.”

Tenor saxophonist Javier Vergara and trombonist Francisco Torres served as an effective front-line horn duo. And Torres, in particular, was an articulate, imaginative soloist, especially during a rendering of “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” that managed to capture the character of the song’s late-night ennui while simultaneously exploring its harmonic potential for improvisation.

Chris Barron, on piano, sounded a bit subdued at times, but rallied toward the middle of the set to contribute an original piece of his own, as well as an occasional passage of stirring tumbao rhythms.

Don’t expect to see the Banda Brothers trying out any Ricky Martin dance moves any time soon. But there’s no denying the power of their personal blend of Latin jazz to make the feet tap and the heart sing.

* “Latin Friday” at Rocco Ristorante, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. Bobby Matos Quintet, July 30 and Aug. 6; Fred Ramirez Latin Jazz Ensemble, Aug. 13. $5 cover charge. (310) 475-9807.