Men Of Honor

Cut in August 2009, Men of Honor initiated California-born trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's involvement with Joe Fields' New York-based HighNote record label. For this auspicious debut, Pelt teamed up with Los Angeles pianist Danny Grissett, Philadelphian bassist Dwayne Burno, and two of Detroit's finest exponents: tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen and master percussionist Gerald Cleaver. Men of Honor consists of a set of eight original compositions that brings to mind the coolly creative, mainstream, pre-electric works of Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis. It is a deliberately drawn salute to certain musical traditions established in the late '50s and early '60s which have endured and been extended by young artists enraptured by the harmonic poetics of early modern jazz. Comparisons abound in the literature surrounding Pelt and his peers. This is inevitable as the influences run thick throughout his gradually expanding discography. He clearly came up listening to the Jazz Messengers, Wayne Shorter, and the young Wynton Marsalis. This thoughtful, well-crafted music is recommended for relaxation on a foggy day, or intuitive navigation after dark. ~ arwulf arwulf

もうかれこれ10年ほど、NYでヘビー級トランペット番長を務めるジェレミー・ペルトの新作。故フレディ・ハバードを支え続けた年長者ドウェイン・ブルーノのゴリゴリ・ベース、若手ピカイチのダニー・グリセットのブリリアントなピアノ、黒魔術系苦労人JD・アレンの咆哮テナー、同一人物とは信じがたいほど、このユニットでは何故か、バリバリにスウィングしまくるフリー系最重要ドラマーのジェラルド・クリーヴァーという強力な布陣。今となっては数少ないヘビー級モーダルジャズの注目盤。
intoxicate (C)稲田利之