George Cables, Pat Senatore and Ralph Penland © Glenn Mitchell

Hearing and seeing George Cables after being fan for 30 years was a wonderful experience, and even more so in a first visit to the exclusive Vibrato Grill in Bel Air, CA. I first became aware of Cables’ tremendous piano backing with and after legendary tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon's return from Europe in the late 70s. There was always something about Cables’ playing that was unique and almost always immediately identifiable. I have followed him ever since. He was born in and has lived in New York his entire life with travel and gigs throughout his career. He was here at Vibrato, June 12 and 13^th  as part of a trio with L.A. musicians: Pat Senatore on bass and Ralph Penland on drums. We visited them June 12^th on their opening night.

Vibrato is a sensational and exclusive night club. Owner/entrepreneur Herb Alpert, who was the trumpeter and leader of the famous Tijuana Brass several decades back, has completely redesigned the club (formerly Rocco’s restaurant). The decor is unbelievable and the food is out of this world!

Starting off the evening was “All or Nothing At All” by Arthur Altman, done in a Latinized beginning by Cables and trio, then quickly going into a swing “four feel” along with the unusual turns this standard moves through. Senatore’s early bass soloing reflected his years of on-top and ever-present competent bass work. Penland provided his usual terrific eight-bar solo breaks. Both of these players have a long list of musical achievements: Pat Senatore, bassist with Tijuana Brass for its entirety, also worked with many other musicians in his own club, Pasquale’s, in Malibu Beach in the late 70s. Today he serves as the “house bassist” at Vibrato. Penland also has worked with many of the “greats” throughout his career, including Freddie Hubbard and Hubert Laws, just to mention a couple of them.

Cables introduced the musicians, announced the tunes and talked about some of the tunes and his own career. He spoke of his best friend, Helen, for whom he wrote a lovely ballad called “Helen’s Song.” Cables uses it as the lead song on his website: www.georgecables.com. “Mr. Baggy Pants” was a funk tune that demonstrated what I would call Cables’ bebop surrealistic qualities in his playing. Before the set ended, the trio played one of the prettiest and most popular standards ever composed, the great “Over the Rainbow,” and did so eloquently. Vibrato was packed and everyone listening gave a huge round of applause. “All The Things You Are” and Sonny Rollins’ “Doxy” closed the set.

Cables has many recording credits over his longer career. His newest, A Letter to Dexter, had a tune or two performed from it. I am sure the CD will be a brilliant addition to his discography.

The gorgeous “I Thought About You,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” an uptempo version of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” and the Freddie Hubbard creation, “Up Jumped Spring,” entertained the very attentive audience in the second set. See Vibrato’s website: www.vibratogrilljazz.com . A very worthwhile night of the best jazz music.

Reprinted with permission from LA Jazz Scene, July 2007. Glenn A. Mitchell is a bassist and reporter/reviewer for the LA Jazz Scene.