Magical discourse from a duo

It’s possible that a group of musicians may have played as many notes and worked as hard as alto saxophonist Sonny Fortune and drummer Rashied Ali did Thursday at the Jazz Bakery. But if they did -- and it’s unlikely -- it probably took them a week to do it.

Fortune and Ali started their set in modest fashion -- a horn player and a drummer on stage, all by themselves. No bass to provide a foundation; no piano or guitar to add harmonies. Just a couple of guys on their own. And when they kicked off a high-speed version of “Cherokee,” it seemed like a challenging way to start, with the modulating harmonies and stretched-out form of a tune that has long been a test of improvisatory skill for jazz artists.

Little did the audience realize that, more than an hour later, Fortune and Ali would still be playing “Cherokee,” still powering their way through a song that had been expanded into a virtual universe of possibilities. But if the thought of hearing a pair of musicians working out the same tune for more than an hour sounds like a prescription for insomnia, think again. Fortune and Ali not only sustained continuing interest as their evolving variations unfolded, but they also were actually on a rising scale of creativity as they approached the end of their set.

Fortune’s solid musical resume -- from mainstream to free jazz -- was present throughout. After playing the song’s theme, he launched into a series of choruses that continued, without abatement, for about 50 minutes. A good portion of that time was spent delivering fiery, fast-fingered passages. Echoes of John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Ornette Coleman occasionally resonated through his phrases. Fortune has not always been identified as one of the post-’60s saxophone originals, but he should be.

Ali was astounding. His multilayered, polyrhythmic drumming style has been among the most adventurous in jazz since his work with Coltrane on the “Interstellar Space” recordings. And his interaction with Fortune was energized by his capacity to generate constantly evolving inventiveness at a nonstop, high-speed tempo. Together, the pair fashioned one of the Jazz Bakery’s most memorable events.

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Sonny Fortune & Rashied Ali

Where: Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City

When: Tonight and Sunday, 8 and 9:30 p.m.

Price: $25

Contact: (310) 271-9039