JAZZ : Max and ‘the Difference Between Quality and Junk’

Electric bassist Max Bennett doesn’t have a high opinion of a lot of the contemporary jazz he hears nowadays--just what you’d expect from a guy who once played with Charlie Parker.

Bennett isn’t a mainstreamer, by any means: He was an integral part of saxophonist Tom Scott’s groundbreaking fusion outfit, the L.A. Express, back in the ‘70s and has recorded with the Crusaders, Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones, Frank Zappa and the Four Tops. His own electric outfit, the Maxx Band, plays Friday and Saturday at El Matador in Huntington Beach.

But “I’ve been around long enough to know the difference between quality and junk,” the 63-year-old San Clemente resident says. “Don’t get me wrong. There are some great groups out there--the Yellowjackets, the Rippingtons. But there are also groups that have very little substance to offer.”

Bennett--who thinks “the best of contemporary jazz combines the richness of rock with a lot of Latin influence”--came up through the be-bop days to become one of the area’s busiest studio bassists. Born in Des Moines, he played with Parker in New York some 40 years ago, when Tommy Potter failed to show for a gig. He worked for Stan Kenton in the ‘50s, and was a member of Ella Fitzgerald’s trio. He also traveled with a late ‘50s edition of Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic ensemble that included Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt.

In the early ‘60s, Bennett began a long association with Peggy Lee (he says he brought the song “Fever” to her attention). Their relationship was renewed this past summer when his previous band, Freeway, teamed with a string section to back Lee during a rare appearance in Pasadena, with Bennett conducting.

In 1972, he began working with Scott at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The band, then known as the Tom Scott Quartet, eventually moved over to the Tuesday spot at the Baked Potato in North Hollywood, where it took off. Mitchell heard the group one Tuesday and tabbed it to back her on her recording “Court and Spark.” Around the same time, Bennett also worked with Joe Sample and the Crusaders and recorded “Hot Rats” with Zappa.

He formed Freeway in 1984 with guitarist Pat Kelley (later replaced by Grant Geissman), saxophonist Sam Riney, keyboardist Emil Palame and drummer Trevor Feldman (son of Bennett’s longtime associate keyboardist Victor Feldman), and began playing at the original Cafe Lido in Newport Beach. The group has recorded a trio of albums for the TBA label.

Though the name and lineup of his band have changed (it now includes saxophonist Jeff Jorgensen on sax, Rob Whitlock on keys, guitarist Brian Price and drummer Ray Brinker), Bennett says his goals remains the same:

Bennett, who writes all of the band’s music, likes a good melody but says “there has to be a considerable amount of room for self-expression from the players. The songs can’t just be some structured entities designed to appeal to the masses.”

Who: The Maxx Band.

When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30 at 9 and 11 p.m.

Where: El Matador, 16903 Algonquin St., Huntington Beach.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego Freeway to the Bolsa Chica/Valley View exit, take Bolsa Chica Road south into Huntington Beach. Turn right onto Warner Avenue and at the next left, turn right again onto Algonquin.

Wherewithal: No cover.

Where to Call: (714) 846-5337.