Jackie McLean, Cedar Walton Breathe New Life Into Bebop

Bebop lives! Doubters are directed to the Jazz Bakery this weekend, where alto saxophonist Jackie McLean and pianist Cedar Walton are not simply reviving the revolutionary jazz of the ‘40s and ‘50s, they’re proving its continued vitality.

McLean comes from a slightly younger generation than such bebop founders as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell. But by 1951, when he was 19, he was already working with Miles Davis and can legitimately be identified as a giant of a boldly adventurous musical era.

His program Tuesday night included two bop-era specials--his own “Minor March” and Davis’ “Solar”--rendered with a virtuosic fire and fury that presented the quick moves of bebop as an utterly timeless form of improvisation.

On “Somewhere in the Night,” McLean added another perspective, playing a series of linked phrases recalling that boppers were dedicated to melodic exposition as well as the exploration of altered and extended harmonies.

Walton, opening the set in trio format with bassist David Williams and drummer Kenny Washington, was his usual elegant, whimsical self. “My Heart Stood Still” received a slightly arranged setting, followed by a looser version of “Body and Soul.” However, it was Walton’s lightness of touch, his obvious pleasure in offering often humorous melodic counter-phrases, and the effortlessly rhythmic qualities of his line that made the numbers so entertaining. He was well served by Washington, whose wide range of dynamics added texture and drama.

Working together, McLean and Walton grooved in an easygoing synchronization. In addition to his obvious attributes as a soloist, Walton has always been a consummate accompanist, and he found precisely the right quality of spare backing to balance McLean’s free-flowing virtuosity, the perfect harmonic cushioning for his vocalized ballad excursions.

Jackie McLean with the Cedar Walton Trio at the Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Tonight through Sunday at 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 271-9039.