Veteran Ray Brown Galvanizes His Trio

It took a while for the Ray Brown Trio to get fully up to speed Tuesday night at Catalina Bar & Grill. The veteran bassist, whose trios have been the incubators for young pianists ranging from Benny Green and Geoff Keezer to the current incumbent, Larry Fuller, was as charming and gregarious as ever, and the music typically ranged from standards to briskly boppish lines.

In the opening portion of the evening, however, Milt Jackson’s tender ballad “Compassion” received a respectful reading that was more appealing for its colorful harmonic touches than for its inner emotional probing. “The Lamp Is Low,” the ‘30s standard based upon Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante defunte,” was delivered at a high-speed pace, abandoning the lovely melody in favor of Fuller’s fast-fingered forays across the keyboard.

With the arrival of Oliver Nelson’s floating line, “Stolen Moments,” matters began to improve, as Brown, Fuller and drummer George Fludas finally seemed to get past opening-night rustiness and reach deeply into the music.

But it remained for Brown to bring the set fully into focus. Taking the music squarely onto his shoulders, he launched into a medley of tunes written by, or associated with, Duke Ellington: first, an up-tempo romp through “Caravan” featuring Brown’s bowed rendering of the melody; next, a pair of marvelously articulated solo versions of “Perdido” and “In a Sentimental Mood;” concluding with an in-the-pocket, groove-rich reading of “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be.”

Brown has had such a high level of success with his previous trios that the bar has been placed extraordinarily high for any succeeding group. And the current trio still hasn’t matched the full creative expression of past ensembles. Technically, they are first rate, with Fuller’s pianistic virtuosity, in particular, bursting full blown out of everything he plays. But on this night, the technique couldn’t quite compensate for the lack of emotional engagement that characterized the first half of the program.

Fortunately, Brown, the consummate, mature professional, made it work by doing what he has been doing for more than half a century--bringing musical life and spirit to everything he touches.

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The Ray Brown Trio at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Tonight at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. $17 cover; Friday and Saturday at 8:30 and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., $20 cover; Friday and Saturday at 10:30 and Sunday at 9:30 p.m., $17 cover. Two-drink minimum. (323) 466-2210.