This being a free outdoor show, arranger Mark Masters focused on the less "free" aspects of the late windman-composer's long career, namely the bluesy Blue Note '60s years. Tapping a 13-piece ensemble, which young Rivers never could have dreamed of budgeting, Masters put a new shine on the tunes without sacrificing integrity.
The arrangements had a swirling, Minguslike feel behind Kendall Kay's propulsive drums -- clean (three trumpeters) but retaining plenty of physicality thanks to three trombones and a baritone sax. Tom Luer on bari grabbed a subtantial and welcome slice of the solo pie, holding his own with guest tenor star Billy Harper, who swaggered the line between gutbucket and bop in his glittery jacket and graying Afro dome (and ensemble saxist Jerry Pinter could rip plenty). But the hottest currents flew from the bell of alto saxist Nicole McCabe, just a tornado if you could control the weather with a metronome.
When the group wandered into free territory, it didn't boil. But Sam would not have graded it down.
PHOTO OF ANGEL CITY ORGANIZER ROCCO SOMAZZI, RIVERS ENSEMBLE ARRANGER MARK MASTERS & MOB BY FUZZY BAROQUE.