Pisano, Anthony make familiar tunes fresh

Guitarist John Pisano’s weekly guitar nights at Spazio have become one of the Southland’s most dependable jazz destinations. Every Tuesday, a different guitarist joins Pisano on the venue’s intimate stage, sometimes romping through the blues, sometimes digging into straight-ahead jazz, occasionally exploring the heavier timbres of rock and fusion.

With veteran guitarist Ron Anthony in the guest chair on Tuesday, the mood became laid-back and swinging. Pisano, 72, and Anthony, 70, are both veteran jazz warriors.

Pisano’s resume includes gigs ranging from the Joe Pass Quartet to the Tijuana Brass; Anthony had a pair of lengthy tours with George Shearing and nearly a decade with Frank Sinatra. Each has also been a mainstay of the Los Angeles recording studios.

That’s a lot of experience, and it was apparent in every note played during a set that moved smoothly across a spectrum encompassing “I Remember April,” “All the Things You Are,” “Don’t Be That Way” and “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” All familiar tunes, to be sure -- essential items in the large catalog of material that veteran jazz artists tap into at a moment’s notice. But the pleasures of the evening derived from the manner in which that material was transformed.

Anthony’s brisk, blues-based phrasing coursed through his soloing, bringing life and spirit to ballads as well as up-tempo numbers. And Pisano’s gift for melody -- a vital element in his style -- was constantly present in his engaging musical paraphrases.

Together, they alternated between back-and-forth solo-accompaniment passages and -- in several gripping segments -- some impressive, spontaneously improvised counterpoint.

With fine support from bassist Dave Stone and drummer Tim Pleasant, the cumulative result was yet another superb Pisano guitar night, showcasing two of the instrument’s most masterful practitioners.