JAZZ REVIEW : Burrell Still Going Strong

Two months short of his 60th birthday, guitarist Kenny Burrell shows no signs of letting up on his active career. Performing at the Stingaree Gulch in San Pedro Thursday night, he provided a convincing demonstration of the crisply articulated jazz lines that have characterized his playing for nearly 40 years.

Typically, Burrell’s selection of material was a blend of familiar standards seasoned with one or two unusual entries. He clearly enjoys measuring his improvisations against the ever-fruitful harmonies of the blues and mainstream ballads.

Opening with a brisk stroll through Duke Ellington’s “Main Stem,” he moved quickly into the darker convolutions of Gil Fuller’s “Tin Tin Deo.” In both pieces, Burrell’s usually fluid lines stumbled in places--the result, perhaps because of a not-quite-synchronized connection with pianist Art Hillary, bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Sherman Ferguson.

Burrell was far better on a warmly harmonized solo reading of “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” and a thoughtful, introspective examination of Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.” But it took a requested version of “Take the ‘A’ Train” to urge the group into some sense of ensemble integration. The playing became looser and more energetic, the feeling of swing more propulsive, as Burrell and Hillary tossed bits and pieces of rhythm and melody across the flow of rhythm.

For the most part, however, it was hard to shake the feeling that this particular rhythm section--good as they were--didn’t seem quite right for the flowing subtleties of the Burrell style. Things may be somewhat different in February, when the guitarist will be featured at the Stingaree Gulch, on Friday and next Saturday with Gerald Wiggins, Bob Maize and Tootie Heath and, on Feb. 14 and 15, with the Gildo Mahones Trio.