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Lynne Arriale previews her new band in South Florida
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With her tangle of vibrant red hair, dancing blue eyes and elegant stage apparel, Lynne Arriale cuts a striking figure at the piano. Intense and cerebral, her music is nonetheless quite lyrical and soulful. It's a heady mix, and audiences respond accordingly; in fact, each time I've seen her perform here — brought back again and again by South Florida Jazz for the organization's long-running monthly concert series — the crowd expands exponentially. On Saturday, when Arriale performs at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Davie, she'll be bringing along some bandmates that should rachet up the excitement even further: trumpeter Randy Brecker and bassist George Mraz.
Having parted ways with her longtime trio mates, bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Steve Davis, the pianist has assembled a superb new ensemble that can be heard on the upcoming recording Nuance: The Bennett Studio Sessions, which will be out May 12 on the Motema Music label. Brecker's warm tones float and drift around Arriale's melodic explorations, often lending a dreamy, ethereal quality to the proceedings that's particularly effective on tracks like the gorgeous "Ballad of the Sad Young Men." Mraz's lush-toned solo and minimalistic accompaniment reveal why the Czech-born bassist has been in high demand since emigrating to the U.S. more than 40 years ago.
Of course, the group also simmers and burns with bop fire on tunes such as Monk's "I Mean You," seemingly having a blast as the musicians negotiate the fragmented rhythms and put their own spin on this classic — especially evident in Arriale's dazzling and nonderivative solo. Drummer Anthony Pinciotti and bassist Mraz provide expert support no matter the setting; one moment they're providing sensitive shadings and rich tonalities on the wistful "Longing," and the next, they're laying down a New Orleans second-line shuffle — among other tantalizing grooves — on the partying "Crawfish and Gumbo," both of which were penned by the pianist. 
Although he's entrenched in the contemporary-jazz world — in fact, he won a Grammy in the field for his 2008 recording Randy in Brasil — Brecker is at his best in straightahead settings. With undeniably huge chops and an exquisite tonal palette, the trumpeter is always a force to be reckoned with. His exquisite sensitivity is much appreciated on the aptly titled Nuance, and he never overpowers Arriale, whose comping is as compulsively listenable and full of rich ideas as her solos.
Expect to hear plenty of the new material Saturday night, as Arriale and these extraordinary musicians provide a taste of the new recording on-stage at the Miniaci. Another visit from Arriale is always welcome; she remains an exceptional straightahead player and an electric presence at the piano. A chance to see her in this setting should be a don't miss.
Arriale maneuvers: The pianist and her new crew, from left, Randy Brecker, George Mraz and Anthony Pinciotti
For more info: Southfloridajazz.org.
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