Through the flimsy walls of the Schoenberg Music Building, jazz can be heard. In one classroom, three third-year ethnomusicology students are reworking a song.
“It sounds really sick when he locks on that,” drummer Mark Banner says before imitating a series of notes meant for Eli Sundelson’s Hammond organ.
Brent Canter, playing a shiny sunburst Gibson guitar, nods his head before reminding them to “resolve with the G minor instead of the A flat.”
They continue rehearsing.
Banner, Sundelson and Canter are practicing for a show at a venue where they’ve witnessed countless professional musicians, including their own jazz professor, Anthony Wilson. Their upcoming performance as the Brent Canter Trio is an event worthy of celebration, but not just for the rare feat of three undergraduate students commanding the venerable Jazz Bakery in Culver City tonight.
The performance also happens to coincide with Canter’s 21st birthday.
“I’m not exactly sure how it all came together,” Canter said, recalling the process by which he was able to book a gig at the Jazz Bakery. Canter remembers sending Ruth Price, the venue’s owner, a demo. After a few silent weeks, Canter sent an e-mail; after a few more weeks, finally, Canter received a call. They settled on a week in May.
“Basically trying to make small talk, I mentioned it was the week of my birthday. She was very excited and billed it as “˜B-Day Bash,'” Canter said.
Canter admitted that he still isn’t sure whether or not Price listened to the demo and assumes they were given a chance to perform for two reasons: Price’s long association with the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology and the group’s atypical format ““ an organ trio featuring an organ, a guitar and drums.
Perhaps confirming Canter’s suspicion, Price claims not to remember whether or not she listened to the demo.
“He simply struck me as being a viable candidate,” she said.
She did, however, confirm the rarity of student musicians performing at the venue.
“The Jazz Bakery is one of only two major jazz venues in Los Angeles. It is the only nonprofit presenter of music that presents music seven nights a week,” Price said, “Just to be on the calendar is a big deal.”
Since meeting during their freshman orientation, Canter and Sundelson struck up a friendship over mid-20th century organist Jimmy Smith. The two students fell into playing in the organ trio format Smith originated and have performed with Banner at the Industry Café and Jazz in Culver City as well as at the Fowler Museum.
“He mentioned he always wanted to play in an organ trio,” Sundelson said of Canter.
After practicing for several months, the group settled on a setlist ranging from bebop to contemporary pop. Many of the songs were composed by Canter and were written in off-meter.
“For listeners, it will be an interesting treat,” Banner said. “Some of the grooves are just not commonly heard that I play on the drums.”
Though Banner has drummed for multiple gigs around Los Angeles, including R&B and classical, this show will be singular in his experience because it features the most original pieces.
One song, “Like a Star” by Corinne Bailey Rae, was adapted by Canter to an organ trio; and, judging by their nuanced performance, it sounds as if Rae expressly wrote it for the three musicians. The song begins as a lulling ballad, the organ and guitar commingling in a bracing romantic melody. With percussive drum tappings, the song transitions into R&B before crescendoing with a stretch of propulsive Latin jazz that gives the performers a chance to take solos.
The Jazz Bakery represents a new benchmark in the three musicians’ development, especially considering their relatively late entry into the genre. Both Canter and Banner only began playing jazz in high school due to limited opportunities outside of jazz band, while Sundelson only jumped from piano to organ during his senior year.
“I didn’t get into jazz until my junior year of high school,” Canter said. “My band leader told me I had to get my jazz chops together to compete with the saxophonists.”
Banner, too, was intrigued by the high demands of jazz performance.
“Jazz is up there in being one of the most challenging genres, not only in the technical aspect of playing ““ it also forces you to listen more than you would in other genres. You’re listening to the saxophone player or the keyboardist and thinking about what you can do to respond and contribute,” Banner said.
The trio’s enthusiasm centers on both the prestige of the Jazz Bakery and its student-friendly environment. With neither a cover charge nor a drink minimum, it is especially accommodating to those on a tight budget.
“It’s definitely an exciting opportunity,” Sundelson said. “I didn’t think I would be playing there any time soon because it’s one of the top clubs in Los Angeles.”
For Canter, especially, the show is a special occasion in more ways than one.
“It’s a very big accomplishment to have my friends, family and the public come to this very prestigious venue. It’s a big step for me in terms of my musical development. It’s been a goal of mine,” Canter said, “and it’s coming to a sense of realization.”