Wolff’s Ensemble Struggles to Gather Impure Thoughts

Michael Wolff’s group Impure Thoughts represents an intriguing effort to find inspiration in a blending of musical genres. While the emphasis is understandably upon jazz--Wolff is a talented pianist--the ensemble’s current, eponymously titled CD (on the Indianola Music group label) pulls in elements from various global areas, especially Brazil and India.

It’s a musically explorative path filled with unusual potential, much of it realized on the CD. Unfortunately, Sunday afternoon’s concert featuring Wolff and Impure Thoughts at the attractive, light-filled sanctuary of Shumei Hall in Pasadena was hurt by the absence of two of the group’s regulars--saxophonist Alex Foster and percussionist Frank Colon--despite the fact that both were listed in the program.

Perhaps because of the personnel change--they were replaced by saxophonist Dan Jordan and percussionist Valtinho--the program’s energy level was somewhat erratic for the concert’s opening half.

Jordan and Valtinho are first-rate players in their own right, and each offered impressive solo efforts. But the ensemble never quite jelled as a unit, and the most appealing moments were centered around the funk-driven rhythms of Wolff’s offbeat arrangement of the Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”

The performance level rose considerably in the second half, initially triggered by a musically compelling exchange between Wolff and tabla artist Badal Roy in the metrically off-center, and appropriately titled 7/4 piece “Pretty Seven.”

Further enhancing the proceedings, the group was joined by trumpeter Mark Isham for a hypnotically atmospheric rendering of Joe Zawinul’s classic for Miles Davis, “In a Silent Way.” Isham has always been especially effective with his Davis simulations, and he was no less so here, his dark lyricism bringing a needed musical focal point to the program.

Still, it was unfortunate that Wolff’s too little acknowledged skills--as pianist, composer and leader--didn’t receive a completely illuminating musical setting. Although he may be best known for his stint as bandleader on Arsenio Hall’s talk show and his efforts supporting causes related to Tourette’s syndrome (most recently via the film “The Tic Code”), Wolff is a jazz artist with qualities--a sound and a style of his own, an adventurous creative imagination--that deserve a far wider hearing.