With the latter, the Michigan native was a standout at last September's Liberty Jazz Festival, held at Jersey City's Liberty State Park.
But when Abler performs as a leader -- teaming with his wife, Rio de Janeiro-born songstress Yashmin Charnet-Abler -- the musical focus is on a range of Brazilian fare.
Take Friday at the Arts Factory in Bayonne, which resembles a low-key sports bar and where jazz has been on tap intermittently since March. There, the West Orange-residing Ablers were joined by four estimable colleagues: pianist John Colianni, bassist Gregory Jones, drummer Adriano Santos and percussionist Daoud David Williams.
The guitarist started instrumentally with his vibrant bossa, “The Long Goodbye" -- from his 1999 Equinox Mansion CD, “In the Marketplace."
Immediately noticeable was his appealing, fat sound, which employed some form of delay or other electronic enhancement to add breadth. Also clear right from the delivery of the song's theme -- which recalled the buoyant jazz-with-a-pop-side that gave hits to guitar hero Wes Montgomery -- was Abler's confident, supple feel for the beat.
That rhythmic acumen -- call it time, or swing -- coupled with that tone gave impact to whatever he played. To boot, he crafted creative ideas that were decidedly listenable, always a welcome attribute.
Abler's ideas ranged from punchy repeats of a juicy phrase to chords that vaulted upward athletically and lines packed with choice notes offered with flow. Behind him, his partners laid out a rolling, vital beat; in their solos, they were fluid and engaging.
Charnet-Abler came aboard for Jobim's “Dindi," which she sang in Portuguese, and which is on her 2005 “Jobim, Etc." Bossa Nova Music CD. With her warm, shimmering voice, she made the language sound luxuriant. Her rhythmic sense was as acute as the others'; the song moved with a sure step. Here, with a purer, ringing sound, Abler played with melodic flair, as did Colianni when he offered dancing chords or fluid pockets of sonic color.
After Abler's upbeat “Cinco Minutos," where his sound shifted again, becoming steely, even gritty, came a surprise: the get-down “Dakota's Blues." This was a hard-cooking medium-slow blues, but Charnet-Abler sang it in her native tongue, giving it an intriguing flavor. In his solo, Abler showed he'd listened to his share of greats like the Kings: B.B., Albert, and Freddy.
Also a bit off the jazz track was Caetano Veloso's “Tigressa," done with a Brazilian funk/rock rhythmic whammy, but still open to jazz thought in the solos.
Two other winners: Abler's meaty “Between Two Worlds," from his 2005 CD, “Fearless" (Bossa Nova Music); and the guitarist-and-singer's “Remember Me," where Charnet-Abler's lyric swayed charmingly between statement and question.
Upcoming at the Arts Factory, 280 Avenue E, near E. 23rd Street, Bayonne: guitarist Vince Venezia plays the Jazz Continental Brunch, Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $12.95; (201) 436-6700; www.arts-factory.com.
Abler and Charnet-Abler (whose Web sites, respectively, are www.paulabler.com, and www.bossanovamusic.com) plus pianist Tomoko Ohno perform June 5, 7-10 p.m., at Fawn Samba, a Finnish and American Women's Network event at The Restaurant at the Hotel Roger Smith, 501 Lexington Ave. (between 47th and 48th Streets), New York. $15 cover charge, includes one drink. Call (212) 755-1400 or visit www.fawnet.org.
Zan Stewart is the Star-Ledger's jazz writer. He is also a musician who occasionally performs at local clubs. He may be reached at [email protected] or at (973) 324-9930.
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