Tribute to Bassist Budwig Set for Sunday at Chaplin Stage

An impressive array of talent, including singers Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett, Supersax and the L.A. Voices and Bill Berry’s L.A. Band, will take part in a “Tribute to Monty Budwig,” a benefit concert on Sunday, 2-7 p.m., at the Chaplin Stage of A&M; Studios, 1416 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood.

Budwig, who died of cancer on March 9 at age 62, was a class bassist whose vibrant sound, sure sense of time and ability to improvise like a hornman kept him in constant demand in Los Angeles jazz circles for almost four decades. A stellar example of his artistry can be heard on the excellent five-CD collection “Shelly Manne and His Men: Live at the Blackhawk,” recently reissued on Contemporary Records.

Also set for the tribute are Shorty Rogers and Bud Shank and the Lighthouse All-Stars, Frank Collett’s trio with Terry Gibbs and a jam session featuring Mundell Lowe, Teddy Edwards, Jimmy Rowles and others. Various bassists will appear, among them Jim Hughart, Eric Von Essen, Dave Carpenter and Frank De La Rosa.

A $30 minimum donation is requested; proceeds will go to Budwig’s family. Donations may be sent to MWI/Monty Budwig Fund, 662 W. Huntington Drive, Suite 722, Monrovia, Calif. 91016. Information: (818) 980-3730.

From the Heart: Though keyboardist Mike Garson might be best known for his work with David Bowie and his jazz appearances with Free Flight, he’ll tell you that he’s most at home playing the plain, old acoustic piano.

“That’s really all I ever think about,” said the Canoga Park resident. “I invite bassists and drummers over to the house to play in the garage all the time.”

To document his chosen style, Garson went into the studio last year and recorded “Admiration,” an acoustic trio session released on CGR Records, that features bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Jimmy Paxson. Garson, who plays Tuesday at LeCafe in Sherman Oaks, financed the project.

Garson admits it was a coup to get Clarke, who made his entrance into the jazz scene as an upright bass player with Horace Silver and Pharoah Sanders before gaining fame as an electric bassist with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. “This is the first time Stanley has made an all-acoustic trio record in at least a decade,” said Garson.

Critic’s Choice: When four top area musicians such as reedman Herman Riley, drummer Tootie Heath, bassist John Heard and pianist Phil Wright get together, as they do Sundays at 9 p.m. at Tra Fiori in Pasadena, musical sparks are a guarantee. Heath is a magical and empathetic drummer, Riley is a subtle stylist whose solos enliven a room, Heard offers big, fat bass notes and Wright is a crisp yet economical craftsman. What else could you ask for?