Music Review: Slow start, fab end with Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin

BY AYA YUSON November 26, 2012
Mystery solved.

This is not to say that last Friday's jazz as played by keyboardist Dave Grusin, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Abraham Laboriel and  drummer Chris Coleman was jazz at its worst. It was, however, mostly declawed, saccharine, non-threatening stuff and was, for the concert's first half, a tad boring.

It wasn't until Dave Grusin played a solo rendition of his It Might Be You that ears perked up and there was a sigh in recognition of satisfying music. This tune truly is a beautiful song, and as played by its composer, a master musician, it stood shoulder to shoulder with pithy masterworks like Body and Soul and The Very Thought of You.

After It Might Be You, the band went into Grusin's Mountain Dance, which was mightily applauded by the audience. No fireworks from the band, but this tune exhibited fine, stellar musicianship, especially from Laboriel, who turned in the finest solo of anyone onstage.

Taking their cue from Laboriel, Grusin and Ritenour turned the heat up a notch or two and they, in turn, performed at a higher level. It was a transformative moment as their earlier halfhearted efforts were banished, and from this tune onwards, they both sounded fully present and committed.

Next up, Laboriel played a solo bass rendition of Pasko Na, Sinta Ko. He sang the first few lines, then asked the audience to sing the rest, which they gladly obliged. It was a beautiful, magical moment. Goosebumps! This tune alone was worth the price of admission -- a beautiful song played beautifully and sung wholeheartedly by a ham audience. Because, truthfully, is there a single Pinoy who's not a closet ham at heart?

For most of the evening, Ritenour showed all and sundry why for decades he's been considered the creme de la creme of L.A.'s session scene. His technique is impeccable, his execution flawless, his musical choices faceless. Someone once said that if you don't make mistakes, you aren't taking risks. Perhaps this may be said of Ritenour.

Much of his music is virtuosic, flawless vanilla. It could use a bit of garlic. It’s a taste thing, so take it with a grain of salt.
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