JAZZ REVIEW : A MAKESHIFT QUINTET AT DONTE’S

It was supposed to be a sextet of the fairer sex Monday night at Donte’s, but things got changed around a bit and three of the women couldn’t make it and so two male subs were sent, making it just a quintet.

But it really wouldn’t have mattered if only Diana Krall, the pianist, had shown up for the first set. That is not in any way meant to suggest that the work of fluegelhornist Stacy Rowles and valve trombonist Betty O’Hara was less than admirable. It is only to give the Vancouver-born Krall, who will be leaving Los Angeles for Toronto at the end of the month, her due.

She is one terrific pianist whose studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston and here with the legendary pianist Jimmy Rowles have paid off handsomely. An enthusiastic player burdened only slightly by the vagaries of youth, Krall showed deft skills and sensibilities in her roles as both accompanist and soloist during the five-song opening set.

The quintet, which featured drummer Billy Mintz and bassist Scott Colley, stuck to the familiar classics from the jazz repertoire. Opening with “Secret Love,” Rowles and O’Hara established the group’s routine by sharing the opening melodic statements before passing the solo hat.

While both of the front line players performed well, a couple of Rowles’ wistfully moody solo efforts were lessened by O’Hara’s echoed commentary. Though occasionally effective (O’Hara is a very tasteful musician), the practice grew tiresome. It also offered no relief from the low timbre of the two brass instruments.

A couple of the brightest moments came during a Latinized rendition of Cole Porter’s “I Love You” and on a relentlessly swinging “A Foggy Day.” Rowles’ muted trumpet on the former was a perfect musical outing, as was O’Hara’s move to swing time for her valve trombone solo. Krall’s best effort with firmly stated chording underscoring her gentler melody lines, came on the latter tune.

The group, which also featured O’Hara singing the Johnny Mandel-Dave Frishberg tune, “You Are There,” in a pure and simple style, returns to the North Hollywood club Monday night.