Veteran jazz saxophonist Bob Mintzer didn’t have to look far to find inspiration for the title of his latest CD, Canyon Cove. The disc is named for the street his house sits on in Hollywood, Calif., and which also happens to be the former residence of classical composer Arnold Schoenberg.
“He’s probably rolling over in his grave because a jazz musician is living in his house,” Mintzer says with a laugh.
That sense of humor permeates Canyon Cove, an unorthodox trio disc with Hammond organist Larry Goldings, drummer Peter Erskine, and Mintzer playing tenor saxophone, bass clarinet and flute. The Canyon Cove Trio will play the South Florida Jazz series Saturday night, and while most jazz trios at least feature a pianist, guitarist or bassist, this CD’s only additional contributions are from Judd Miller, who plays EWI (electronic wind instrument) on three improvised pieces.
The remaining 10 tracks include Victor Young’s jazz standard When I Fall in Love and Mintzer compositions that range from Thaddeus (an ode to late trumpeter Thad Jones, his former employer in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band) to self-explanatory traditional (Bebop Special) and R&B feels (Bugaloo to You). The title track, although inspired by Mintzer’s home, is also a surprising dedication to 1970s rock organ trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
“I’d written the melody with a ’70s rock feel to it,” Mintzer says, “although I’m not exactly sure why. It’s not really a genre I often write things in.”
In truth, any listener would be hard-pressed to hear much of ELP’s notorious bombast in Mintzer’s subtle title composition, although Goldings’ tone and soloing offer fleeting glimpses of Keith Emerson. Goldings, who’d emerged in recent years through his work in Trio Beyond with John Scofield and Jack DeJohnette, proves the perfect organist throughout Canyon Cove — even if he wasn’t Mintzer’s first choice.
“I’d played on a Little Jimmy Scott project with Joey DeFrancesco,” Mintzer says, “and I hadn’t had much previous experience with the instrument. But I loved the rich sound and feel of the Hammond. I thought it would be fun to do an organ trio project with Joey, but he got stranded in Europe right before the sessions. I’d just been to a party where I’d told Larry about the record, and he half-jokingly said, ‘If Joey can’t make it, I’ll be around.'”
Erskine has been around Mintzer often, having played with him in the Jaco Pastorius Big Band 30 years ago. In fact, the two go all the way back to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan in 1969 (where their classmates included drummer Dan Brubeck, son of pianist Dave Brubeck; Elaine Duvas, principal oboist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and actor Tom Hulce, who portrayed Mozart in the film Amadeus).
“There’s a lot of chemistry there,” an understated Mintzer says of his relationship with the all-purpose Erskine, who’s also a fellow faculty member at the University of Southern California.
The versatile Mintzer, who turns 59 on Jan. 27, is a New Rochelle, N.Y., native who attended the Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Conn., on a classical clarinet scholarship in 1970. He’s since performed with the New York Philharmonic and the American Ballet Theatre; has an educational resume that includes 25 years on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, and has published more than 200 charts for school and professional big bands worldwide through Kendor Music’s Bob Mintzer series.
Between early experience with Brazilian big band leader Eumir Deodato in 1974 and his tenure with Pastorius, Mintzer gained valuable knowledge by writing some of his first performed arrangements as a member of the Buddy Rich Big Band.
“I learned how to write for a big band while with Buddy,” he says. “You hear all these stories about what a terrible guy he was, but he certainly wasn’t terrible to me at all. He was very supportive, and provided me with an incredible opportunity. And the way he played the music, and drove a big band, was so intuitive, creative and artistic.”
As a recording artist, Mintzer’s website breaks his catalog down into four categories — “Small Band,” “Big Band,” “Sideman/Guest” and “Yellowjackets,” for the 31-year-old fusion quartet that he’s been a part of for the past 21. The group’s keyboardist, Russell Ferrante, is also on the USC music faculty.
Despite Mintzer’s sideman credits dating back to 1975, and recordings with his own small groups and big bands from 1982, there’s a tendency to think of him as an original member of the Yellowjackets. The venerable group first assembled in 1978 to back guitarist Robben Ford on his album The Inside Story.
Ford was then with the Yellowjackets for their self-titled 1981 debut, and the 1983 disc Mirage a Trois, before he departed to concentrate on his solo career. His replacement was Tower of Power alto saxophonist Marc Russo, who stayed through the 1989 album The Spin and was replaced by Mintzer.
“Bob brought the knowledge of traditional jazz,” Ferrante says, “and he played tenor sax, which was a really different sound for us. He’s since become a really big part of the writing, too.”
“The Yellowjackets are planning to do some touring in 2012,” Mintzer says, “and working on a new recording. Russell and I recently did some touring as a duo in Italy and Brazil, playing originals, standards and Yellowjackets material.”
“It feels like it’s just whipped by,” Ferrante says of the band’s tenure. “We still have a blast playing, but if at some point it’s no longer fun or we feel like we’re phoning it in, then it’ll be time to move on. But that probably won’t happen. We feel very lucky.”
Mintzer’s most recent work with the Yellowjackets is on Timeline, the 2010 release commemorating the group’s 30th anniversary. He also appears on vocalist Kurt Elling’s latest stellar offering, The Gate, and has a 2012 CD by his L.A.-based big band set for summer release on the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild label. It should provide a horn-heavy contrast to the comparatively-minimalist organ trio sound of Canyon Cove.
“It’s probably the smallest ensemble I’ve recorded with,” Mintzer says, “other than the 1997 duo album ‘Longing With Gil Goldstein.’ But I really enjoy working in a trio format. There’s an intimacy there, and a transparency, that makes it really great for a saxophonist.”
Bob Mintzer and the Canyon Cove Trio appear at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Davie. Tickets are $40, $30 for South Florida Jazz members, $15 for students. Call 954-462-0222 or visit www.southfloridajazz.org.