Marcus Miller off to a Slow but Promising Start at Catalina

The anticipation level was high at Catalina Bar & Grill for Marcus Miller’s opening set Tuesday to kick off a six-night run. The gifted multiple instrumentalist--he played his signature electric bass as well as soprano saxophone and bass clarinet--has had a continually growing audience since the mid-1980s, when he was a vital cog in the musical machinery of the Miles Davis groups of the period.

So it was no surprise that the club was packed, and that--before the set was over--a long line of fans stretched down Cahuenga Boulevard, waiting for the second show.

But the crowd’s eager expectation was not quite fully rewarded. Miller is a good enough bassist, composer and leader to deliver some first-rate music, regardless of the circumstances. And, to his credit, that’s generally what he did, despite the initial set’s uneven qualities.

Positioned at stage center, a slender figure in black, wearing a pork-pie hat that called up images of Lester Young, Miller, 40, ran the show in spontaneous fashion, using eye contact, hand motions and crisply articulated musical phrases to keep the proceedings moving. Sometimes the process was effective: A surprising rendition of “Amazing Grace” was filled with eloquent moments, especially during a gospel-tinged solo from alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett. But more often there was a feeling of uncertainty, with players waiting too long for direction, and the various parts of the music sounding scattered rather than cohesive.

Nor was the program particularly enhanced by Miller’s persistent use of funk and rock rhythms. There were moments, especially during his exchanges with guitarist Hiram Bullock, when the music verged toward nostalgia. Could Miller and Bullock deliver the high-voltage, screaming-decibel rock thing better than the guitar gods of the ‘60s and ‘70s? Sure, but does anyone care?

Miller closed the performance with “Tutu,” from the album he produced for Miles Davis in 1986. The simulation was convincing, with trumpeter Michael “Patches” Stewart delivering a believable version of Davis. More important, it was the point at which one could feel the band beginning to come together, reacting more intuitively to each other, playing music with creative potential--a sign that the balance of the week could produce some rousing contemporary jazz at Catalina.

* The Marcus Miller Sextet at Catalina Bar & Grill through Sunday. 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., (213) 466-2210. $25 cover tonight at 8:30; $22 cover at 10:30 p.m.; $30 cover Friday, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.; $27 cover Friday, Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 p.m. Two-drink minimum.