Mike Price Quintet©Bob Barry/Jazzography.com

Although trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer Mike Price resides most of the year in Japan, he comes home to Los Angeles several times a year.  He also leads a jazz orchestra in Japan as well.  On July 12th, Price brought a quintet of superb musicians to Crowne Plaza LAX’s Jazz Club, including Rickey Woodard (tenor sax); Andy Langham (piano); Hamilton Price(bass, no relation to Mike); and Roy McCurdy (drums). 

They fused together quickly, starting the first set with a minor blues Freddie Hubbard tune, “Crises.” This tune was a terrific opener and gave them an opportunity for good starting solos from Woodard, Mike Price, Langham and Hamilton Price.   The jazz classic “Whisper Not” continued the set, with Woodard demonstrating miraculous fluidity throughout all his choruses. More great solos came from the rest of the band.     

One of Mike Price’s compositions was about Charlie Parker, titled, “Charlie From Around.”  This medium tempo tune gave the group lots of room to create some very jazzy solos.  Langham does it all.  His playing leads the group, setting up excellent musicality for the quintet.  Trumpeter Price played the choruses with drive and expertise, while Hamilton Price gave us a remarkable bass solo.  A sweet ballad, “Easy Living,” featured Woodard, with the rhythm section (particularly Langham) supporting his suave, delicate interpretation of this gem.  Lee Morgan wrote “Our Man Higgins,” dedicated to the late, great drummer Billy Higgins.  Front line players Mike Price and Woodard laid down the tune. Then the trio went to work;  Woodard and Mike Price played exciting solos.  Naturally, McCurdy was featured, closing the first set with a phenomenal drum solo.

Set two began with another Mike Price composition, “Spiralization,” a minor blues tune with an easy rhythmic pace, and solos by Woodard, Mike Price, Langham and a tremendous bass solo by Hamilton Price. Other tunes making this a groovy set were: Sonny Rollins’ “Airegin”; another gorgeous ballad and audience favorite, “It Never Entered My Mind,” with Price on muted trumpet with just the trio; and another Mike Price original, “A Mingus Among Us,” with some interesting twist and turns.  Closing the second set, the band played the great Gillespie composition, “Tin Tin Deo,” with Mike Price and Woodard setting up the usual Latinized beginnings with full swing form throughout the tune’s sections.  McCurdy, once again, gave us a stupendous drum solo.  A standing ovation from the audience was well deserved.  See Mike Price’s website: www.mikepricejazz.com

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