JAZZ REVIEWS : GLOWING SET BY SILVER’S ACE SEXTET

Pianist/composer Horace Silver has remained a popular presence on the international jazz scene for more than 25 years with good reason: He writes enchanting, often exotic, melodies that are underpinned by catchy, foot-tapping rhythms; and he finds top--and mostly young--talents to bring these evocative vehicles to life with feeling and precision.

Friday, when Silver debuted his latest sextet--Andy Bey, vocals; Vincent Herring, saxes; Dave Douglas, trumpet; Brian Bromberg, bass, and Carl Burnett, drums--at Marla’s Memory Lane, he proved he’s still on track, giving fresh treatments of some of his evergreens.

“Song for My Father” was reworked as a vocal, with Bey delivering the composer’s new lyric after the horns had played the endearing, enduring melody. Bey’s resonant, chestnutty voice segued to a Silver solo--replete with tinkling trills and loping lines--that was, for the thousands of times he’s played this tune, strikingly original. Then came a steaming, sizzling-sounding Douglas solo, when he balanced lingering lines with furious flurries, followed by Herring’s edgy alto, where crying high notes drew shouts from the crowd. A long piano out-chorus, also atypical, concluded this song turned mini-suite.

This ace set had other high points. Douglas, who displayed admirable poise, tore into “Nica’s Dream,” which also had lyrics, building to a series of stirring peaks with well-constructed ideas. “Lavender Love” had a seductive, serpentine horn line offset by a quietly churning rhythm, and here the horn men and Silver all told memorable stories. Burnett and Bromberg, who soloed with taste, were consummate accompanists.

Silver’s sextet plays Catalina’s Bar & Grill on April 22.