JAZZ REVIEWS : MATOS, HERITAGE PLAY ‘SALSA SUNDAYS’

Subtle yet persuasive Afro-Cuban jazz delivered by headliner Bobby Matos and the Heritage Ensemble kicked off the second in a six-concert series dubbed “Salsa Sundays,” Sunday at the John Anson Ford Theatre. Playing the opening set before about 100 fans, the timbales player led his 9-man crew through fluent and flowing numbers, varying style and substance in each so that ennui was creatively avoided.

The medium tempo “Up in Alfred’s Pad” spotlighted flutist Danilo Lozano offering breathy, punchy phrases over a be-bop like foundation. Later, the leader soloed, making his little drums talk. Vibist Darrell Harris’ “Tjader-ade” found pianist Serge Kasimoff dropping in parallel octave runs with a nice touch, pausing as if breathing between statements. Lalo Schifrin’s “Recuerdos” was slow and haunting, while “Cuidado” had a popping two-flute melody from Lozano and Louis Taylor, and later Taylor played a hard-hitting tenor sax solo.

By expanding his ensemble, his repertoire and his approach, Matos has made his group one of the most appealing of this genre.

The 11-piece L.A Salsa Society’s set was sparked by the vivid, snappy arrangements of violinist Harry Scorzo; the animated, idea-full solos from flutist Art Webb and trumpeter Les Lovitt and the often penetrating vocals of Dee Dee Scorzo, as on “Quizas, Quizas” and “Misty.”’ But most of the tunes were built on endlessly repeating rhythmic patterns, that, while fine for dancing, tended to numb the listener, like too many beers in the hot afternoon sun.

Conga drummer Victor Pantojas’s Azteca II closed the show with a powerful mix of Latin/jazz--highlighted by walloping solos from trombonist Thurman Green, saxman Richard Aplan, trumpeter Jerry Rusch and pianist Tavio Figueroa--the effect of which was undermined by guest guitarist Ray Carrion’s thick-toned, highly charged passages, a la Carlos Santana. At one point, Carrion played with his teeth, and the small crowd cheered: Show biz gets ‘em every time.

Next Sunday: Poncho Sanchez, Johnny Martinez and Tierra.