Risky Solo Flights Elevate Marcus Printup Quintet

Trumpeter Marcus Printup was one of the late arrivals in the group of young jazz lions who came roaring onto the public stage in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. Like many of his compatriots, he was inspired and aided by Wynton Marsalis.

But Printup’s roots reach far deeper into jazz history, drawing sustenance from the hard bop style in general and the trumpet playing of Freddie Hubbard in particular.

On Wednesday night at the Jazz Bakery, the opening set by Printup’s quintet focused primarily upon providing musical frameworks to display his wide-open soloing, as well as the adventurous efforts of tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding Jr. and pianist Eric Lewis. A few of the pieces offered a bit more than starting points for improvisation: Printup’s “The Bullet Train,” with its hypnotically repetitive ostinato bass; the modal-like melody of Blanding’s “The Olive Tree”; the groove-driven rhythms of Printup’s “The Inception” (from his just-released album “The New Boogaloo”).

But for the most part, this was an evening dedicated to stretched-out, individual soloing. And that, of course, is an approach filled with promise and problems. Improvised solos reaching out beyond the five-minute area can produce grand emotional experiences, as John Coltrane proved time and time again. But they also can quickly lose their effectiveness if they are based primarily upon the fast-fingered acrobatics of technical virtuosity.

Printup’s playing tended to lean toward the direction of improvisational pyrotechnics in the early part of the set--successfully, for the most part, because of his impressive command of the instrument. But he took his playing to a higher musical level near the close of his program, especially during a turbocharged, up-tempo romp through the Kurt Weill standard “Speak Low.”

Blanding’s offerings, however, were enigmatic, roving between hard bop quickness and wild-eyed, avant-garde honks and squeals. That said, his most positive attribute was his refusal to sound like anyone other than himself. When Blanding sorts out all the differing parts of his style into a coherent musical voice, he may well emerge as an important player.

Lewis has a reputation as a versatile artist, and the pianist displayed it throughout the set, accompanying with sensitivity and style while contributing solos energized by a passionate musical imagination.

Supporting this barrage of individual efforts, bassist Vincente Archer and drummer Donald Edwards generated a continuous flow of propulsive rhythmic swing.

The Marcus Printup Quintet at the Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Tonight through Sunday at 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 271-9039.