Wednesday, November 4, 1998
Quartet enraptures crowd as jazzy sound fills intimate venue
with soulful melody
MUSIC: Catalina Bar & Grill offers perfect place for
untested group to combine tradition with novelty
By Sam Toussi
Daily Bruin Contributor
Sometimes the most interesting aspect of a jazz set is the faces
of the musicians. The performers communicate through gestures,
facial twitches and raised eyebrows. After a while, the music
almost seems less enticing than the stories rumbling within the
stormy players" hidden personas.
Such is the case with the Sam Sadagursky Quartet. Led by
saxophonist Sam Sadagursky, pianist Jacob Zacks, bass cellist Dan
Lutz and drummer Eddie Perez, the group came alive during their
"Young Artists Series" performance at the Catalina Bar & Grill.
Playing at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday evening, the group seemed to
eek out the sordid tales of their lives through the musical notes
gushing forth from their breathing instruments.
But indeed, these guys are young. When they came out on stage,
the unseasoned musicians looked almost nervous. But once they
started playing, they began to do what came naturally.
Strangely, the weakest link in the quartet seemed to be
Sadagursky himself, who struggled to empower his sax. Consequently,
his band-mates often drowned out his contributions altogether. His
original composition, "Mrs. Musters," however, revealed more
promise for the young musician. A jazz rendition of a relationship
with an older woman, the piece showed off the depth and versatility
of the fledgling quartet.
More so than Sadagursky, Zacks proved the one to watch. The main
composer of the quartet"s original compositions, Zacks has a
distinct sound that blends traditional and experimental aspects of
jazz. His "Ginger and Honey" is a sensual romp which the boys had a
blast playing.
But Zacks" face is almost more intriguing than his music. It"s
evident that the music is his baby just by watching his face as it
contorts to every pang of pain and every joy.
In terms of skill, the quartet as a whole has a long way to go.
But they already show that they have a combination of reverence for
tradition and the desire to try new sounds that few young musicians
have.
It is only fitting, then, that a band with this combination
would play at the Catalina Bar & Grill. The Catalina boasts a
very cosmopolitan audience which usually signifies a good jazz
club. All kinds of faces pile into the Catalina, spanning from one
ethnicity to the next.
Jazz lovers, young and old, come to the hip joint just to
listen, drink and socialize. On this night, a young rat-pack sat in
front watching the Sam Sadagursky Quartet play as older jazz fans
admired the quartet"s budding talent. The name of the Catalina may
include "Bar & Grill," but it acts primarily as a showcase for
jazz talents.
All of the tables in the club are configured to provide a
beeline to the three-sided, listener-friendly stage. Fitting the
quartet perfectly, the performance space allowed the audience to
envelope the musicians as if in a hug.
In this environment, food is optional. The place filled to
capacity once the performers took the stage, with many audience
members standing at the back. However, a two-drink minimum is
required (Coca-Colas running $3.50 a pop) and a cover of $5 is
enforced nightly.
But with entertaining jazz musicians like the Sam Sadagursky
Quartet playing every Sunday at both 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and
the rest of the week at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., the Catalina
patrons ain"t complainin".
Restaurant: Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 Cahuenga Blvd.,
Hollywood. Call (323) 466-2210 for reservations.
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