Butler, Sextet Display Award-Winning Style

Jonathan Butler’s trifecta of winning three trophies from the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards a few weeks ago was a long distance--in both space and time--from the day he first picked up a guitar, nearly 30 years ago. And it was good to see the singer-guitarist--the youngest of 17 children, who was signed to a record deal at age 12, and who earned his first Grammy nomination in the ‘80s--finally receive some of the recognition his talent has long deserved.

Tuesday night at Catalina Bar & Grill, Butler demonstrated why--leading his sextet in a program ranging from his latest album, “The Source,” to one of his earliest numbers, “Seventh Ave.”

At the center of the music, the small, compact South African used his left-handed guitar-playing to stoke the rhythmic fires, often singing along with his lines in a fashion similar to that of George Benson. At one point, he spontaneously simulated the styles of Benson, Al Jarreau and Stevie Wonder before returning to his own method, combining elements from each into his own transformative version.

Butler’s increased visibility in the smooth jazz/instrumental pop arena has provided him with a useful marketing niche. But, fortunately, his presence in that niche hasn’t diminished either the strength or the eclecticism of his music.

True, there were passages in which his exchanges with alto saxophonist Mindi Abair and singer Alexx Daye seemed aimed straight at the smooth jazz charts. But there were other segments in which Butler, performing with keyboardist Greg Wachter, bassist Ronnie Garrett and drummer Bernard Davis, dug into hard-driving improvisations.

The “smooth jazz” label can be an instant off-putting description for many mainstream fans. In the case of Butler’s performance, however, the designation is an inadequate characterization of what is really being delivered at Catalina Bar & Grill this week. Good, hard-swinging, entertaining music is a far more accurate representation.

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* The Jonathan Butler Sextet at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Tonight at 8:30 p.m., $20, and 10:30 p.m., $17. Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., $25. Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 p.m., $20. Two-drink minimum. (323) 466-2210.