USC Showcases Area Stalwarts

this year titled “LA Jazz 2000”--is a collegiate sort of event. Scheduled over a five-day period, it includes free, as well as low-cost, events with programming that is a mixture of national artists, local players and USC faculty.

Perhaps predictably, this means that the free shows, which have taken place at noon in Alumni Park, have been well-attended programs featuring the USC Studio Jazz Ensemble, the USC Superaxe Studio Guitar Ensemble and the USC Elf Ensemble with guest artists Bob Florence, Scott Henderson and Bennie Maupin. On Wednesday night, the first performance by a nationally prominent artist--saxophonist Michael Brecker--drew a full house to Bovard Auditorium.

Local musicians, however, have not proven to be such a major draw. And that’s unfortunate, since--if there has been any sort of subtext to the festival and, especially, to the performances Thursday night by the Bruce Eskovitz Trio and the Phil Norman Tentet--it is that Southland players can match their jazz skills against anyone. (Although it’s hard not to wonder why so few African American jazz artists have been present in the various lineups.)

Eskovitz, who directs the USC Concert Jazz Ensemble, is a veteran tenor saxophonist whose credits reach from his own various groups to studio work with everyone from Natalie Cole to Joe Williams. His Thursday night performance was improvising in its most fundamental form--his own saxophone, Trey Henry’s bass and Ndugu Chancler’s drums. The choice of material--”My Romance,” “St. Thomas,” etc.--reflected his dedication to Sonny Rollins, and Eskovitz’s soloing was filled with plenty of Rollinseque qualities. But he also revealed a willingness to reach into the avant-garde with choruses--especially on “What Is This Thing Called Love?”--that broke out into the sort of rapid note flashes, multiphonics and high harmonics more characteristic of John Coltrane.

The Norman group, an all-star assemblage, reprised its linkage with the briskly melodic West Coast style of the ‘50s. A few uncharacteristic performance glitches didn’t distract from the warmly communicative qualities of the music, much of it arranged by Florence, with impressive soloing by, among others, trumpeter Carl Saunders, alto saxophonist Kim Richmond and trombonist Andy Martin.

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* “LA Jazz 2000” concludes tonight with performances by the Charlie Hunter/Adam Cruz Duo and the John Scofield Band. Tickets: $10 general public; $5 senior citizens. (213) 740-2167.