Jazz Reviews : Royal Performance at Hollywood Holiday Inn

The Sunday matinee by the quartet of alto saxophonist Marshal Royal at the Hollywood Holiday Inn was more than just another jam session. It was a unique and delightful innovation.

Too often, jazz is performed after dark, in small, often windowless rooms. At the instigation of the Los Angeles Jazz Society, a series of champagne buffet jazz brunches is being offered in Hollywood’s only revolving rooftop restaurant.

The main advantage is an airy ambiance conducive to optimum performance.

The concept of ballads with the salads and spectacular views with the blues is in sharp contrast to normal nightclub conditions. (There is a reduced rate, no-brunch option.)

A seat near the musicians may be an illusion, since by set’s end one may be halfway across the room (the bandstand is in a stationary area); however, the sound is clear from every angle, and the tables move almost imperceptibly at about one revolution per hour.

Royal responded to these conditions with one of the most spirited performances he has offered in years. Though his choice of notes may suggest Denny Carter at times, his elegant sound is closer to that of Johnny Hodges. After cruising easily through “Willow Weep for Me” and a loosely flowing “Perdido,” he jumped into “I Want to Be Happy” in a molto agitato mood marked by staccato notes and syncopations.

Coincidentally, all his colleagues were fellow Count Basie alumni, though of a later vintage. Royal was the band’s lead alto player from 1951-1970, John Clayton was Basie’s bassist from 1977-79, and drummer Greg Field, a 1980-83 sideman, will rejoin the band shortly. Even Gerald Wiggins once subbed at the piano on a Basie record date. The three sidemen provided the brand of mainstream rhythmic pulse best suited to the Royal manner.

The Holiday Inn brunches (from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will continue through the summer, offering what can literally be called a moving experience. Next Sunday’s attraction is the Ross Tompkins Trio.