Large Ensemble Looks at the Big Picture

Over the last 17 years, the performances of multi-instrumentalist and composer Vinny Golia’s 29-piece Large Ensemble have become cross-genre spectacles, bringing together fans and musicians from jazz, new music and classical camps. Likewise, the music itself blends these various traditions, framing free jazz solos with orchestral backdrops reminiscent of Bartok, Shostakovich or Gil Evans.

“I love the combination of orchestral music and improvisation,” says the 53-year-old Golia. “Los Angeles is so spread out; we have all these little camps of musicians that do improvisational music, that do classical music, that do other things. The Large Ensemble is a place they can meet and check out what everybody else is doing.”

The ensemble--four on trumpet, eight on woodwinds, four on trombones, one on tuba, three percussionists (including marimba), two violinists, three cellists, two bassists, a keyboardist, Golia and conductor Stephanie Henry--will play the Harbor College Recital Hall Saturday, ahead of an appearance at the DuMaurier Jazz Festival in Vancouver, Canada, on Wednesday. The ensemble also plays two nights at Yoshi’s in Oakland in August.

The group is documented on “Portland 1996,” recorded live on its last tour, as well as a handful of other recordings on Golia’s 9 Winds label stretching back through “Pilgrimage to Obscurity,” from a concert at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in 1985.

Recently, Golia began to notice that his ensemble spans generational as well as musical gaps, providing initiates a chance to work with veterans.

“I realized that [the Large Ensemble] was giving the younger guys an education, a place to go and stand beside players like [saxophonist] Kim Richmond and hang out with them and learn about the music. That’s how I learned. Now it’s a function of the group.”

Golia cites trumpeter Paul Smoker, who will join the ensemble this summer from New York, as one of its most important veterans. Smoker was an associate of free jazz composer Anthony Braxton and is now based at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

* The Vinny Golia Large Ensemble plays Harbor College Recital Hall, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. Saturday, 8 p.m. $10. (323) 267-1830.

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Benefit: Andy Simpkins, the former George Shearing, Carmen McRae and Three Sounds bassist who died June 2, will be honored with a tribute Sunday at the Musicians Union. The five-hour event will include appearances by pianist Monty Alexander, drummer Jeff Hamilton, bassist John Clayton, singer Ernie Andrews and dozens of others. The day’s highlight will be a performance by an orchestra of bassists, directed by John Clayton. Proceeds will help defray Simpkins’ medical expenses.

* A Musical Tribute to Andy Simpkins, Musicians Union, 817 N. Vine St., Hollywood. Sunday, 4 p.m. $15; $25 per couple. (323) 469-6800.

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Summertime: Los Angeles jazz club owners disagree with poet T.S. Eliot. July, not April, is the cruelest month. With outdoor festivals, free museum concert series and vacations all in full swing, jazz clubs find the going tougher in the summer months.

“July is definitely the hardest month of the year for us,” says Catalina Popescu of Catalina Bar & Grill. “Not only is it hard to get people in, but it’s hard to book good bands because so many of them are touring the big festivals or are in Europe. But things start to pick up in August.”

Ruth Price of the Jazz Bakery says even August is slow for her concert space. “It’s not a club time. People want to be outside in the summer, not in. And there’s so much competition from the free [museum] concerts. I think those free shows are great, but I just wish some of the corporations that sponsor them would help us out a little too.” (The Jazz Bakery is a nonprofit organization.)

The Bakery, closed for repainting and other refurbishing July 13-18, features Denny Zeitlin and David Friesen July 9-10 and another live recording session with the piano duo of Kenny Werner and Alan Pasqua July 20-22. Catalina features pianist Eric Reed’s Family Reunion Band with Teddy Edwards and Jeff Clayton June 29-July 3, bassist Art Davis July 7 and trumpeter Mark Isham July 8-9. Saxophonist Kenny Garrett and Sphere are due in August.

The Jazz Bakery’s big summer event is the Aug. 22 concert at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, “The Jazz Singer, Pre-Bop to Bebop,” with Kurt Elling, Oscar Brown Jr., Janis Siegel and Mark Murphy. Bakery information: (310) 271-9039. Catalina: (323) 466-2210.

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Award: Elder statesman of jazz Lionel Hampton will receive the Pioneer of Israel award along with composer-pianist Steve Allen on Sunday at the Greek Theatre during the “Israel 2000” concert. The 91-year-old vibraphonist, who toured Israel many times beginning in the ‘50s, will perform with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and promises to sing a pair of numbers in Hebrew. Information: (818) 786-4000.