Mangione Adds a Little Fire to the Familiar

The music that Chuck Mangione is bringing to Catalina Bar & Grill this week can’t quite be described as a collection of golden oldies, but it’s close. Few jazz artists have had hits that have received as widespread popularity, and Mangione structured his opening set Wednesday night around many of his most familiar items.

But jazz tunes, unlike pop numbers, have the benefit of improvisational transformation rather than rote repetition each time they’re performed. Familiar they may be, but enlivened by the slightly different perspective provided by each solo variation. And Mangione--working with longtime associates Grant Geissman on guitar, Gerry Niewood, on saxophones and flutes, Charles Meeks on bass and vocals, and young newcomer Darrell Pelligrini on drums--brought some spirited soloing to a program that included “Land of Make Believe,” “Bellavia” and “Feels So Good,” among others.

A good part of the attraction of an evening of Mangione’s music is the careful crafting that goes into each piece. He rarely allowed soloing--his or the other players’--to extend into personal showcasing, clearly determined to keep it in the context of the overall composition.

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And all of the pieces were written as compositions, rather than melodies with chords simply serving as grist for improvisation. It’s hard to imagine “Feels So Good,” for example, without its rolling undercurrent pattern of rhythm. And even non-Mangione numbers such as “Amazing Grace” benefited from such small compositional devices as framing an upbeat rhythmic section with a rubato introduction and coda.

Mangione sounded warm and fluent on fluegelhorn, if a bit less affecting on trumpet. Niewood, as always, was busy on a range of instruments--tenor and soprano saxophones, flute and piccolo--with his alto flute on “Bellavia” especially appealing.

Geissman, on acoustic and electric instruments, was even more diverse stylistically, his accompaniments having a powerful effect upon the ensemble’s rhythmic drive, and his solos reaching from screaming rock sounds to delicate acoustic melodies. Pelligrini’s drumming was driven by spirited youth and enthusiasm, and Meeks’ ever-dependable bass work was supplemented by a passionate vocal on “Children of Sanchez.”

* The Chuck Mangione Quintet at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., (323) 466-2210. Tonight and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m., $25 cover. Tonight and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 p.m., $22 cover. Two drink minimum.