Versatile Fielder makes it a Howling night on four saxes

There’s a natural affinity between saxophonist Dale Fielder and the Howling Monk Jazz Coffee Bar. Fielder’s playing -- loose, probing and adventurous -- seems perfectly situated to the relaxed, receptive environment of the Inglewood jazz room.

On Saturday night, Fielder led his quartet in a collection of music that included a few originals, as well as selections from a new two-CD album recorded at the venue: “Dale Fielder Group/Force Howling Monk.” (Interestingly, the recording date -- in late 2002 -- took place 50 years after Charlie Parker, Sonny Criss and Chet Baker recorded “Inglewood Jam” in what was essentially the same location.)

Fielder’s versatility was on full display via performances on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. To his credit, each instrument was handled with complete respect for its individual sound and timbre.

He played baritone saxophone on “Ad Astra,” a piece written by the late Pepper Adams (described by Fielder as a primary influence), and the connection was fully apparent in his big-toned, fast-fingered set of choruses. His work on originals such as “Anomalies” and “Raina’s Theme” reached into the brusque potential of the tenor saxophone and the lyricism of the alto.

With “My Favorite Things,” Fielder took on a more demanding task, playing soprano saxophone on a tune that has long been a John Coltrane classic. But even here, Fielder performed with stirring results.

Despite his tendency to solo in rapid flurries, his style produced different results from Coltrane’s, moving past melody into broad sweeps and bursts of colorful sound.