Jeremy Pelt at Smalls

Another concert review/author's thoughts but this time on trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, who in the last 2 years has gone from occasional sideman appearance to consistent choosing from my CD rotation. I first heard Jeremy Pelt by complete coincidence. I was late seeing the Village Vanguard Orchestra and a few friends of mine decided instead to check out what was happening at Sweet Rhythm down the street. Turns out it was a random pick-up band consisting of current working cats just playing standards and jamming. As a jazz performance major, it was quite a treat just to hear some real working musicians blow over classics such as "There is no greater love." From 2006 on I started picking up JP's albums. I can't quite remember as to how I found out about this first one I picked up which just came out, called "Identity" (probably looking through jazz times or downbeat issue). I became completely hooked on it either way. The album was primarily a trumpet/keys/bass/drums album with augmentation of vibes, guitar and bass clarinet on various tracks. It then became one of my favorite albums ever. Later he released an 'electric' album recorded live at Smoke Jazz club in NYC. It was interesting because he played/recorded about 4 tunes from the Identity album with his same quartet but JP was playing his trumpet through an effects board and added guitar. It was really enjoyable to hear a related yet different approach to his music and playing.
Around that time JP was invited to perform with my other two fav's on the horn: Dave Douglas and my teacher Dr. Eddie Henderson, who has been especially influencial on me as a musician and artist. They should have renamed the show as "The Nick Di Maria Orgasm Fest" because I was in utter euphoria sitting and listening to these guys play. I even went to the show by myself because I couldn't get anyone to go with me, sat in the front row and took in as much as possible.
A highlight of the night was being introduced to JP and Dave Douglas by Eddie personally. It was like meeting George Washington, Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt at once...and if they were trumpet players. (I hear Andrew Jackson though, was quite the sack butte player) Before the beginning of the second set, I enjoyed a few of the most important moments of my life sitting at the bar inbetween JP and Eddie. They were sharing stories about various musicians and such, letting me in on all the inside details of player's lives...like how Freddie Hubbard would fuck a mother fucker up at a concert he played with Woody Shaw in the 70's or something. (that mo-fo was infact Woody he was refferring to)
At one point Eddie got up to use the bathroom and I was left sitting with JP who was just sippin' and looking forward when all of a sudden he turns to me and says: "So what horn do you play?" I don't remember what I said exactly, but I am sure I sounded retarded. I told him I was actually shopping currently and he recommended the horn I play now to me so thanks JP.
Flash forward to last saturday 1/31 at Smalls. I took my lovely girlfriend to catch the band and by band I mean JP's new quintet that released the album November last July. It was quite the show. They opened with the second track on the album: "Avatar" which is a highlight on the album itself. The sideman presence of J.D. Allen were imactculate. The two horn men resembled Miles and Wayne with their interweaving lines. The band also showcased the tune 466-64 which is a tribute to Nelson Mandela's prison number. The tune is a great work out over a modal vamp, and gave pianist Danny Grissett a moment to shine. The band handed the spotlight over to drummer Gerald Cleaver on the tune Monte Cristo which was written under the influence of Pelt's recent trip to Africa. Pelt's playing throughout the first set was stellar. His playing isn't about notes and chops as it is about music. You hear his influences, Booker, Miles, Freddie, Woody but you hear an original voice that is so enoyable and influential. It will only be a matter of time when JP stops winning the best up and coming trumpet award to best trumpet award in the jazz polls, and hell, he's going to have his number of composition awards as well.
Unfortunetly we had to leave in the middle of the second set due to the fact we had to make the last train out at 2 am, so I am hoping that I didn't miss my favorite tunes of his, Eddie's Story and Suspicion, from the Identity album.
Jeremy Pelt 5 breadsticks
Indentity 5 breadsticks
November 4 1/2 breadsticks