Keeping It Modern

The acclaimed Billy Childs has long been known for his envelope-pushing piano artistry. He is perhaps the top call jazz pianist in Southern California, known for his involved compositions for anything from jazz band to concert orchestra.

The Los Angeles native and Altadena resident seeks modernity, whether he’s improvising or writing.

Childs’ newest musical baby is his Chamber Jazz Sextet, which plays tonight at Rocco Ristorante in Bel-Air. The group combines an unusual frontline instrumentation--Bob Sheppard on woodwinds and saxophones, Larry Koonse on guitar and Carol Robins on harp--with a standard piano-bass-drums rhythm section, and investigates a variety of material.

The inspiration for the band came when Childs was asked to write what became “A Day in the Field of Dreams” for the New York City-based Dorian Wind Quintet, which recorded the work for the album “First Glimpses of Sunlight.”

Childs found that the way the players focused, the “parts breathed together.”

“It was like improvising,” he said from New York, where he appeared with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Carl Allen, from the recent “Skim Coat” CD.

“I wanted a jazz group that would conceive of music like that,” he said.

The sextet’s selections, which range from originals such as “Aaron’s Song” to the familiar “Scarborough Fair,” are melodic without jagged edges, Childs said.

In the sextet, Childs surrounds himself with some of his favorite artists, all of whom he extols for their improvisational gifts.

“While everyone is playing as if they’re part of a chamber group, there are solos in each piece,” said the man who feels he’s “more a piano player who composes as opposed to a composer who plays.”

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In Brief: Hear more invigorating music Saturday at 10 p.m. from the quartet of drummer Paul Kreibich, saxophonist John Gross, pianist Karen Hammack and bassist Putter Smith at Rocco.

Drum maestro Earl Palmer hosts jam sessions Tuesdays at 9 p.m. at the Money Tree, 10149 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood. (818) 752-8383.

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BE THERE

Billy Childs’ Chamber Jazz Sextet plays tonight at 10 at Rocco Ristorante, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. $8 cover, no minimum. Call (310) 475-9807.

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Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at zansky@aol.com.