Face Forward, Jeremy

ここ数年で大きく方向転換したペルト。〈Max Jazz〉〈Criss Cross〉といったレーベルの延長線上で活躍してきたレギュラー・クインテットを解消し、新グループを結成。新たな展開を見せています。本作は、基本的に前作の『Water and Earth』の延長線上に位置し、一歩推し進めた作品。ローズやウーリツァーといったエレピをフィーチャーし、プログラミングされたリズムもミックスしたセクステットは、以前のアコースティックなストレート・アヘッド路線から様変わり。エレクトリックな色彩で、世界はエレクトロ・マイルス。1960年代中盤の新主流派的な所から1970年代に突入していく、カオスな時代の音を彷彿とさせます。女性とは思えないショーターを彷彿させるシュールな演奏を聴かせるサックスのロキシー・クロスを始め、ジョー・ザヴィヌル、チック・コリア、ハービー・ハンコックらの世界を彷彿とさせるエレピ。ある時は、ハンコックの“バタフライ”を彷彿とさせる一面もあり、黄金のクインテットにエレピを導入したような演奏M5あり、さて、この先のペルトが歩む道はいかに?

Beginning with 2005's Identity, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt began exploring '70s and '80s funk and fusion sounds inspired by the works of such luminaries as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. He continued these funk and electronic explorations on such albums as 2007's Shock Value: Live at Smoke and 2013's Water and Earth. While Pelt has also split his time playing and recording more straight-ahead post-bop albums, his 2014 album, Face Forward, Jeremy, combines the best of his acoustic recordings with the electronic-jazz hybrid sound of Water and Earth. Here, Pelt is joined by his longtime ensemble featuring pianist/keyboardist David Bryant, saxophonist Roxy Coss, bassist Chris Smith, and drummer Dana Hawkins. Also featured are vocalists Fabiana Masili and Milton Suggs, along with Rhodes keyboardist Frank LoCrasto and a handful of string players. This is a languid, atmospheric album that touches upon impressionistic, modal post-bop, soulful contemporary R&B, and groove-oriented '70s-style fusion. Tracks like "Princess Charlie" hang on a wordless vocal melody from Masili (mirrored by Pelt and Coss) that leads into adventurous improvisations from Pelt, Coss, and Bryant. "Rastros," once again showcasing Masili, is an Asian and Brazilian-inflected ballad punctuated by delicate harp lines, with Pelt on a beautiful, muted solo. Elsewhere, cuts like "Stars Are Free" sound like something along the lines of '70s Miles Davis, and "The Secret Code" features a frenetic jungle/drum'n'bass-influenced intro from Hawkins. Ultimately, Pelt's Face Forward, Jeremy is a high-minded, well-crafted mix of cutting-edge acoustic and electric jazz that gently turns your ears toward the future of jazz, while never asking you to let go of the music's past. ~ Matt Collar