Monterey Jazz tribute offered an intriguing mix

You were bound to quickly notice at least two things about the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour stopover Sunday at Artemus Ham Hall: The six band members had a personal relationship to the music they were performing, and the passing of half a century has yet to produce any sign of staleness.

The concert -- part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' New York Stage and Beyond series -- was a blend of old and new, with a well-structured balance of ballads, full-throttled showstoppers and playful bebop.

The eclectic material allowed each of the performers to achieve a sense of individuality, and then excel in a different manner as a group.

You got the impression they enjoyed not only the music, but each other's company. There was an immediacy to the show, a pulse, that is sometimes lacking in institutions that have been around too long.

Part of the reason for that may be that the artists make for an intriguing generational mix, with the youthful James Moody, 82, on tenor sax and flute; Nnenna Freelon, 53, vocalist; Terrence Blanchard, 45, on trumpet; Benny Green, 45, on piano; Derrick Hodge, 28, on bass; and Kendrick Scott, 27, on drums.

Moody advised the audience, "No matter how old you get, always stay with the younger people. (It discourages) you from complaining about your aches."

If Moody is aching these days, it sure doesn't show. He's a triple threat as musician, vocalist and exuberant stage personality.

Freelon has an ability to "diva-ize" a song with oversized body and voice mannerisms, and then suddenly deliver a quiet, romantic number with startling directness and simplicity.

The chat was kept to a minimum, but what there was felt genuine and spontaneous (although the occasional lapse into excessive self-congratulations should be curbed).

Most of the cast did not seem to be speechmakers, and they made no attempt to be. Their lack of verbal slickness was a part of their charm.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.