Rare time with Cedar Walton

Every time pianist Cedar Walton makes one of his rare local appearances, one regrets that this former Southland resident, who now lives in New York City, no longer plays locally on a regular basis. The reasons for that regret were amply clear Wednesday night at Catalina Bar & Grill in a lengthy set displaying his flowing two-handed lines and ever-surprising harmonic choices.

The program was divided into two parts, with the opening segment featuring Walton with local artists Tony Dumas on bass and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Saxophonist-flutist David “Fathead” Newman then joined the trio in the second half of the set.

Walton, always a superb accompanist, with a dynamic sense of rhythm, has never been widely acknowledged for the extraordinary compositional qualities of his improvisations. His soloing in the more pensive numbers -- especially a gorgeously textured rendering of Cole Porter’s “Every Time We Say Goodbye” and a moody treatment of Duke Pearson’s “Cristo Redentor” -- was filled with subtle interior movement, richly layered chording and a masterful contrasting of sounds and silences.

Faster tunes -- Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower” and a pair of originals, “The Newest Blues” and “Cedar’s Blues” -- were at their best when Walton let loose his musical sense of humor via a series of quotes from other tunes.

When Newman arrived, his appealing versatility -- he played flute as well as alto and tenor saxophones -- added more musical coloration, most of it tinged in shades of blue. Like Walton, Newman has been much admired by musicians but too often has slipped beneath the radar of the wider jazz audience. And that’s a shame, since, as his playing revealed, his tenor saxophone recalls the floating tenderness of Lester Young, his flute work employs the instrument’s capacity to both sing and sting, and his mobile alto saxophone lines underscore his mastery of the blues.

Beyond the players’ solo efforts, however, the ensemble work, lacking the intuitive togetherness that comes from regularly organized ensembles, drifted too often into the craft-based predictability of another day at the musical office.

*

Cedar Walton and David ‘Fathead’ Newman

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

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

Price: $20-$30, with dinner or two-drink minimum purchase

Contact: (323) 466-2210