Brass Shines

The admirably diverse cultural series known as “Pieces of the World” leans in the direction of brass repertoire, one of those crannies in the musical universe that deserves greater recognition. On Saturday night, the Westwind Brass, a well-traveled quintet currently in residence at San Diego State University, will show how it’s done, in a concert in the architecturally unorthodox space of the Church of Religious Science.

Don’t expect a pure classical experience. Unlike other traditions within the classical music field, brass players are often drawn, by nature of their instruments, to the jazz end of the spectrum. The ensemble will serve up a varied program of music, from the longhair stuff of Gabrieli, Bach and Handel to jazz fare by Thelonious Monk and Dave Brubeck. It promises to be an accessible, genre-splitting affair.

* Westwind Brass, on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Church of Religious Science, 101 S. Laurel in Ventura. Tickets are $12; 646-8907.

*

Agile Jazz Songbird: Jazz singer Toni Janotta is a native Angeleno-turned-Venturan who has played in the area selectively, including appearances at 66 California and a show at the Peter Strauss Ranch last month. She comes on the scene with an impressive CD, “Just Jazz,” on her own label, Aerie Records.

Janotta has a bold voice, and isn’t afraid to use it, with a controlled vibrato and lung power that reflects the influence of musical theater as much as jazz. “Just Jazz” may be a slight misnomer, considering the pop coloration of her original tunes, “The Man Who Has to Roam” and “Wish I Could Say.”

To her credit, she doesn’t always take the expected route with familiar material. Opening the album, Horace Silver’s “Doodlin’,” with lyrics by Jon Hendricks, pushes her voice into upper regions rather than playing it cool. Chick Corea’s “Five Hundred Miles High,” which can be an up-tempo burner, slinks with a slow samba pulse, and is graced by David Krozier’s nimble flute solo.

She supplies a slow funk groove on a lyrical version of Thelonious Monk’s “Well, You Needn’t.” On Hampton Hawes’ “Jackie,” with lyrics by Annie Ross, the rhythm section switches gears from swing to a swaggering shuffle, while Janotta navigates the slinky, intricate bebop melody. Funk rears its head again on the bridge of “Another Night in Tunisia,” with lyrics again by Hendricks.

Janotta is in good company on the album. You can recognize tenor saxist Ernie Watts’ sound within a few notes, as he works up a fleet solo on the waltz “Our Lonely Hearts” and again on the closing tune, “ ‘Round Midnight.” Saxists Gene Burkert, Robert Kyle and Krozier also act as fine foils for Janotta’s purring and wailing.

On the album, Janotta, who has also worked in theater and television, brings a passionate and inventive approach to the material, and an infectious jazz spirit. She’s a welcome addition in the jazz community to the north of the big city.