When Jeremy Pelt issued his first couple of albums several years ago I jumped on the bandwagon thinking, "Here's the next trumpet sensation in jazz history." Then he burst my bubble by going with electronic effects to the extreme on one or two later CD's. Well thankfully, now he's back playing his brand of power jazz with a dream rhythm section of Danny Grissett, piano; Ron Carter, bass; and Billy Drummond, drums. Five of the eight selections are Pelt originals. I was particularly impressed with Pelt's muted, stately ballad approach and Grissett's inspired solo work on "Akua". Likewise on the faster tempo of "Desire" as well as the precision and virtuosity of "Baswald's Place". Pelt's standard on the session is Cole Porter's delicious melody "Dream Dancing". He finds a multitude of improvisational possibilities on the tune, one seemingly prettier than the last. In a similar vein, the quartet caresses Dave Grusin's "A Love Like Ours", a romantic and tender melody if ever there was one. I may have taken a temporary tumble from that Pelt bandwagon. But this versatile, often beautiful new release has me back on board.
High Note; 2016; appx. 53 min.
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