Live: Ralph Lalama @ Lark Tavern, 06/14/2022

It was an emergency. With just a few days until the gig, award-winning baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan had just suffered a severe injury to his hand that would not allow him to travel and play his upcoming gig at the Lark Tavern. What to do? Disappoint the fans on short notice by canceling the gig?  Gary, being a great professional and lover of music, suggested calling his good friend tenor saxophonist Ralph Lalama. Ralph was called, and Ralph was happy to oblige.

Ralph is no stranger to area jazz fans, as he has played at the long-gone Justin’s, Bread and Jam, as well as other venues. As a matter of fact, Ralph and Gary had (at least one) area gig together, at Professor Java’s in Colonie, one snowy evening back in 2011.

In any case, Ralph drives out to Albany from downstate to play a 7:30 PM gig, with minimal rehearsal time with the accompanying band. Will there be an issue? Of course not; these are seasoned jazz musicians who consider these challenges fun and a great way to stretch and grow as musicians.

Ralph was introduced and graciously announced the opening number. “It’s dedicated to you. There Will Never Be Another You.” Then it was off to the races. From the downbeat, the band swung like crazy. After the introduction of the melody by Ralph, he played phrase after phrase of rapid-fire musical ideas for the band, which was being goaded to think fast and well on its feet. Bassist Jason Emmond nimbly walked his bass up and down the neck. Nick Masters, the pianist hailing from New Jersey, nimbly danced his fingers on the keys and across the keyboard. Drummer Joe Barna kept the basic beat and added flourishes, counterbeats, and accents as he saw fit. Everybody was given plenty of solo room and listening space.

Live jazz is frequently as much of a listening exercise for the musicians as a performing one. When Ralph stopped playing to give the rest of the band space, he frequently stepped off to the side, closing his eyes and listening deeply to what the band was playing. Sometimes he would be glancing at what Nick was playing. When he returned, he would often start playing before he reentered the bandstand, creating a gradual reentry into the music.

Similar patterns were established for many of the other tunes, with Ralph inimically introducing some of the song titles. “Nonchalant” as not just a laid-back feeling, but something passive/aggressive. “DaLama’s Dilemma” as a semi-autobiographical composition. “An Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande” (a song from the 1930’s movie Rhythm on the Range) as the silliest song ever written which was rerecorded by Sonny Rollins as an instrumental in 1956. (It is, YouTube it!)

Other Sonny Rollins tunes played included the calypso “St. Thomas” and a riff from the avant-garde “Blessing in Disguise”.  The band also varied the pace by interspersing ballads such as “Darn That Dream”, and the old warhorse “Body and Soul”.

The last piece was an appropriate closer for the two sets of music; the Duke Ellington composition “Take the Coltrane”. And so the band took the “Coltrane ” off the stage, and into the full house of the Lark Tavern.

Next Tuesday’s jazz sessions at the Lark will feature local musicians Liam Davis, Kevin Carey, Jason Emmond, and Joe Barna.

Photo Gallery by Rudy Lu