Brilliant ensemble brings flavor of Newport Jazz Festival to LV

Spencer Patterson

Monday, March 15, 2004 | 8:14 a.m.

For half a century jazz audiences have done just that, descending on the town of Newport, R.I., each summer to witness the world's top vocalists, pianists and horn players in one glorious locale.

This year the festival's organizers have flipped the script, sending an all-star ensemble on tour to celebrate Newport's golden anniversary and give fans of the genre a taste of the festival's many musical charms.

Friday night the group stopped at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall, where the eight musicians provided Southern Nevada's relatively small but dedicated jazz community with an idea what a few hours under the Newport sun might sound like.

The band featured few household names. Many in the crowd of around 1,000 were likely only familiar with 70-year-old pianist Cedar Walton -- who has recorded with everyone from Art Blakey to John Coltrane -- and 63-year-old woodwind veteran Lew Tabackin.

But what the group lacked in star power it easily made up for it in musicianship. That much was clear from the moment the Newport ensemble strode onstage and opened with Miles Davis' "Dig," a piece showcasing consecutive solos by each instrumentalist.

From there, the band took the audience on a trip through Newport lore, playing tunes made famous by such festival alums as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Dizzy Gillespie.

The seven men and female vocalist Lea DeLaria also infused their two-set performance with anecdotes about some of the jazz greats who have graced Newport's most legendary bills.

"To me Newport will always be about the ladies, you know, the women who need no last name, and I'm not talking about Madonna and Cher," DeLaria said. "I'm talking about Sarah (Vaughan) and Ella (Fitzgerald) and Betty (Carter). To me, the Newport will always be about Anita (O'Day)."

DeLaria, 45, recalled watching O'Day's 1958 Newport appearance on the documentary "Jazz on a Summer's Day," and instantly deciding she wanted to be a jazz singer. DeLaria was 7 years old at the time.

Together just three nights prior to their Vegas gig, the eight players nevertheless demonstrated an innate ability to jell musically.

Walton expertly anchored a rhythm section that also featured 39-year-old Peter Washington on stand-up bass and 28-year-old whiz kid Karriem Riggins on drums, and the trio stayed locked in step throughout the 2 1/2-hour concert.

A few of the many highlights:

Walton's elegant version of Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow." The spectacled pianist only hinted at the main theme early on before ever so slowly letting the audience identify one of jazz's most popular standards for itself.

Clarinetist Ken Peplowski's spirited take on Cole Porter's "It Was Just One of Those Things." Peplowski initially mis-identified the tune as a George Gershwin number, then made fun of himself after guitarist Howard Alden corrected him.

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's soulful rendering of Holiday's "Violets for Your Furs." The 27-year-old rising star -- a late fill-in for the ill Terence Blanchard on the tour -- filled the room with a warm, mellow tone on his golden fluegelhorn.

Tabackin's "Coltrane on Saki" arrangement of John Coltrane's "Wise One." The professorial flautist stomped his left foot for emphasis during a brilliant Asian-flavored solo to open the piece. Then Walton, Washington and Riggins channeled the spirit of Coltrane accompanists McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones to turn it into a show-stopper.

Riggins' thunderous drum solo on Ellington's "Caravan." The band laid out completely while its youngest member served notice he should be a name to know on the skins for years to come.

DeLaria's scat singing. All night long, the Bohemian vocalist spiced up familiar material -- including Ellington's classic "Take the A-Train" -- with animated arrays of the voice-as-instrument technique.

Sadly, a rather sedate start to the second set chased a portion of the crowd home a bit early. Several older folks appeared to nod off briefly during the quiet stretch, though a furious finish heavy on Ellington material quickly brought them back to life.

Those who did remain until the end likely went home dreaming of Miles, Dizzy and the Duke. And perhaps wondering how much it might cost to visit the East Coast for the 50th annual Newport Jazz Festival in August.