Saxman Hank Crawford Stays True to a Bluesy Style

Saxophonist Hank Crawford isn’t out to ride the cutting edge of jazz, change his style to sell more records or write music to exotic mathematic formulas, like some of his avant-garde peers.

“I’m pretty well satisfied with what I’m doing because I’ve found I’m the only one doing it--the small band format,” said Crawford, who opened five nights at Elario’s on Wednesday night. “I just try to keep it simple, listenable, danceable. I don’t want to play too complex. Nobody understands that but musicians anyway.

“I cut my teeth on bebop, and I’ve been the whole route, but my place is where I am right now: pop, R&B;, soul, jazz.”

Crawford’s bluesy alto has won critical praise for recent albums including last year’s “Night Hawk,” recorded with the kind of small ensemble he favors, spearheaded by a section of saxes and trumpets.

A new album due in September uses a similar lineup, featuring players such as Dr. John on keyboards, Bernard Purdie on drums and Lou Marino on tenor sax (of the “Saturday Night Live” television show band and the infamous Blues Brothers). Crawford arranged all the music, including two of his own compositions.

Among the songs by others are Whitney Houston’s “Savin’ All My Love for You” and Charlie Parker’s “Bluebird.”

Don’t expect to hear this material in La Jolla, though. Crawford doesn’t want to dull the album’s impact.

Crawford, based in New York, has a loyal following in several countries. He’s spending nine months of this year on the road. Just last week, he shared a bill with Arthur Prysock and San Diegans Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatham during a tour of several Canadian cities. He’ll play Stockholm and Copenhagen in October and London in November.

He’s also in demand for studio dates. Most recently, he contributed sax parts to a new album by singer Lou Rawls.

In San Diego, he’ll be joined by locals Bob Magnusson on bass and Bob Hamilton on piano, plus, in a rare appearance here, top Los Angeles drummer John Guerin.

Keyboardist Keiko Matsui has been cultivating a local following through several appearances in recent months, including the big 1990 New Year’s Eve bash at the Catamaran. She turns up again tonight at 7:30 at Humphrey’s, sharing the bill with fellow keyboardist Dan Siegel. Both have become mainstays of KIFM’s playlist. Siegel hit it big nationally with the 1987 “Northern Nights” album, still a staple of adult contemporary and light jazz radio stations, along with subsequent recordings. KIFM has four songs from Matsui’s new album, “No Borders,” in its playlist. San Diego native Nathan East, who hit it big as a sideman to rock guitarist Eric Clapton, plays bass on her new album. Her melodic work on electronic keyboards has an eastern flavor, partially due to the Oriental percussion sounds supplied by her husband Kazu. Former Santana vocalist Greg Walker is expected to perform in San Diego with Matsui’s road band.

Rhythm Arts, a new dance studio and art gallery in the Candy Factory building at 828 K Street downtown, holds its opening party Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. In addition to dance performances and art, including the works of 50 international artists on display for the opening, the owners plan to use the space for occasional live jazz, including two sets Sunday by local guitarist Art Johnson, who has worked with Lena Horne and Barbra Streisand.

RIFFS: Paul Lavoie, host of the “San Diego Spotlight” jazz program on KiFM, has left for a rock station in Palm Springs . . .

Harry Connick Jr., who sold out two shows at Humphrey’s last Sunday, returns for a La Jolla Playhouse fund-raiser at 9 p.m. Monday, July 16, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The $50 tickets for the concert alone are sold out, but there are still silver ($250) and gold ($350) seats available, including backstage cocktails and dinner before the concert. . . .

Playing jazz piano at the tiny Beach House restaurant in Mission Beach: tonight, Randy Porter, tomorrow night and Saturday night, Al Daniels. . . .

Guitarist David Becker appears with the David Becker Tribune this Sunday for the noon and 2:30 p.m. brunch cruises aboard The Entertainer, leaving from 1066 N. Harbor Dr. downtown. . . .

Tickets for Sunday’s Dixieland jazz train ride through the back country of San Diego, leaving at 2 p.m. from the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo, are $10, not $8, as reported here last week. Kids tickets are $5. The barbecue dinner following the excursion is $8. You supply the food for the picnic lunch before the trip. . . .

Guitarist Kenny Burrell plays KPBS-TV’s “Club Date” jazz program airing Saturday night at 11 and again Monday night at 11:30. . . .

Guitarist Art Johnson is joined by Hank Dobbs on bass and Ron Ogden on drums for “An Evening of Traditional Jazz” Friday night at 8 at Words & Music bookstore in Hillcrest. . . . Three great guitarists are featured on this Sunday’s edition of “Le Jazz Club,” airing at 7 on KSDS-FM (88.3): Jimmy Gourley, who played with Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and Lester Young; Marc Fosset, a frequent collaborator with French violinist Stephane Grappelli; and Patrick Saussois, who combines French gypsy influences with traces of Wes Montgomery. . . .

Barnett’s Cafe & Bistro in the Embassy Suites Hotel features electric jazz with Cutting Edge Friday night and guitarist Hank Easton and his band Saturday night. . . .

Flutist Holly Hofmann teams up with pianist Randy Porter Friday night and guitarist Peter Sprague Saturday night in the Horton Grand Hotel’s Palace Bar downtown. . . .

Dr. Chico’s Island Sounds plays the “Jazz Trax” night at The Catamaran Resort Hotel in Pacific Beach next Wednesday night, July 18.