Saxophonist Donald Harrison, in Search of Just the Right Note

One of the most vital properties of jazz has been the manner in which players work to discover their own musical identities. But the quest to revisit and master past styles has tended to blur the concept of originality, making it sometimes difficult to distinguish some of the decade’s players, one from the other.

So it has to be considered a good sign for jazz when such musicians as alto saxophonist Donald Harrison come along, determinedly working on their own approaches to their instruments.

On Tuesday night at the Jazz Bakery, Harrison and his quartet played a lively set of material, much of it from an about-to-be-released Impulse! album, “Free to Be.” The emphasis, for most of the set, was on Harrison’s alto saxophone soloing. Blessed with a sweet sound and an easy technical fluency, he played a series of choruses that identified him as a player diligently seeking to define his musical individuality.

The key word, however, is “seeking.” Sometimes distinctive musical images became clear; more often they didn’t quite come into focus. When his stabs at originality worked, as they did in a romp through “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise,” Harrison’s musical identity was apparent. Less promising were the times when his improvisational passages built toward musical goals, then suddenly shifted gears before arriving at their destinations. And, too often, those sudden shifts led to repetitious melodic patterns sounding like fragments from a saxophone exercise book.

His youthful band was an important asset to the program. Pianist Andrew Adair had a particularly attractive ability to play airy, open lines. Bassist Vicente Archer was the foundation that kept the music sturdy, and drummer John Lamkin made up in intensity and energy for what he lacked in experience.

* Donald Harrison at the Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. (310) 271-9039. $20 admission tonight and Saturday, 8 and 9:30 p.m.