Sidemen Front & Center

When drummer Paul Kreibich, saxophonist Brian Mitchell and trumpeter Jeff Kaye felt they needed a band to express some deep musical feelings, they formed one: the Jazz Coop.

The Coop--it was supposed to be “co-op” but someone left the dash out--includes pianist Jim Szilagyi and bassist Bill Torma.

The band is a hard-driving, mainstream group in the spirit of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers but has its own personality.

The members all have solid roots in modern jazz, having played collectively with the likes of pianist Gene Harris, saxophonist Teddy Edwards, trumpeter Red Rodney, drummer Shelly Manne and singer Ray Charles.

“We’ve all done so much sideman work with a lot of great people,” said Kreibich, a superb Los Angeles-based player who names Paul Motian as a key influence. “We want to make our own statement based on what we’ve learned, and not just be a regurgitation of the past.”

The Jazz Coop plays Thursday nights at the Money Tree in Toluca Lake. The band’s repertoire includes originals by Kreibich and Mitchell; obscure classics, such as Randy Weston’s “Saucer Eyes” and Horace Silver’s “No Smoking”; and the blues. “You’ll get across to your audience if you have a blues every set,” said Kaye, a Clifford Brown devotee who toured with blues maestro Charles, along with Kreibich and Mitchell.

The musicians are getting across to each other, as well.

“We’ll schedule a two-hour rehearsal and end up playing for four hours,” said Mitchell, the son of noted bassist Whitney Mitchell, whose rich-toned tenor work reveals a lasting fondness for the wondrous Dexter Gordon. “When we finish a job, we’re all smiling.”

Kreibich offered his opinion of why the Jazz Coop is working out so well musically.

“There’s a lot of tradition, we swing hard, there’s a lot of blues feeling, but we’re playing spontaneously, on the edge,” he said. “Jeff and Brian are trying to find something new in their solos, not just running licks and routines. And they’re also responding to the rhythm section, and that inspires us. Everybody is listening.”

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BE THERE

The Jazz Coop plays Thursdays, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., at the Money Tree, 10149 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. No cover, two-drink minimum. Call (818) 752-8383.

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In Brief: Two decidedly swinging fellows, saxophonist Chuck Johnson and trumpeter James Smith, will offer appealing fare Saturday at 9 p.m. at Mr. B, 1333 Hollywood Way, Burbank. Call (818) 845-1800.

Jack Sheldon’s high-voltage 17-piece ensemble kicks off a series of big band concerts Monday at 8 p.m. at the Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank. (818) 761-5366 or (818) 241-8117.

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