The ace of bass is a class act

Class, quality and artistry defined Ron Carter’s appearance Thursday at Catalina Bar & Grill. When the bassist and his players -- pianist Stephen Scott, drummer Payton Crossley and percussionist Steve Kroon -- stepped on stage in conservative suits and ties, they stood side by side for a moment, then bowed graciously to the full house.

That sort of manner traces back to the Modern Jazz Quartet, and is rarely seen at a time when jazz musicians more characteristically dress in casual wear and often barely acknowledge the presence of listeners. It’s also the sort of presentation that suggests a classical-style jazz chamber-music program.

The first sounds from the quartet suggested a different route. Percussionist Kroon kicked off the evening with a stream of random metallic bangs and squeals played on an instrument looking like a utensil that escaped from a tire repair shop. As the other players joined in, Kroon added more percussion devices, creating a panoply of chattering ticks and rustling rattles.

Once past the initial wave of rhythmic accents, the music settled into a somewhat more gentle flow, with Kroon’s percussion blending into the propulsive rhythms of Carter’s remarkable bass playing. Although best known for his work with the seminal Miles Davis quintet of the ‘60s, Carter may be the most recorded bassist in jazz history, with thousands of appearances in every imaginable sort of musical setting.

Every note he played -- from the driving muscularity of his walking bass to the fluent, vocal-like lines of his soloing -- was the work of a master player, filled with the dynamic memories of his years in the front lines of music-making.

The set was delivered without a break. Songs surfaced, then receded into the distance: “It Might as Well Be Spring,” Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints,” “I Thought About You.” “Willow Weep for Me” was rendered largely as a bass solo, giving Carter an opportunity to display his impressive blend of virtuosity and musical inventiveness. On “I Thought About You,” Scott took the spotlight with an irrepressibly driving interpretation of the Johnny Mercer-Jimmy Van Heusen standard. And, wrapping the set, Crossley’s crisp, articulate brushwork on “You and the Night and the Music” revealed the happy fact that climactic drum solos don’t necessarily have to be filled with storm, fury and bashing.

The Carter quartet concluded with another elegant bow to the cheering, standing audience -- a final, solid display of Carter’s consummate maturity and musicality.

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Ron Carter Quartet

Where: Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

When: 8:30 and 10:30 tonight, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday

Price: $25-$35 with dinner or two-drink minimum purchase

Contact: (323) 466-2210