Jeremy Pelt – Men of Honor – High Note HCD 7203, 45:57 ****½:
(Jeremy Pelt, trumpet and flugelhorn; J.D. Allen, tenor sax; Danny Grissett, piano; Dwayne Burno, bass; Gerald Cleaver, drums)
Jeremy Pelt has had a very strong resume since graduating from the Berklee School of Music. He was briefly signed to Fresh Sound New Talent in 2002, and then followed up with a Criss Cross issue, before spending five years with MaxxJazz, where he recorded four CDs between 2003 and 2008. His current quintet, formed in 2008, has followed him to High Note after recording November for MaxxJazz.
Pelt has also formed a strong following with his sideman work, as a first choice New York based trumpeter. He was featured with Louis Hayes’ Cannonball Adderley tribute band, where he shared the front line with Vincent Herring, reprising Nat Adderley’s role. His popularity has reached such heights among both jazz fans and critics, that he has been voted Rising Star on the trumpet for five years in a row by both Downbeat Magazine and the Jazz Journalist Association.
After brief forays exploring electric jazz and fusion, Pelt has settled back into the acoustic, post-bop milieu. The addition of J.D. Allen to his group was a savvy move as the two play well off of each other. Men of Honor opens with Backroad, and Allen has an opening solo spurred on by Cleaver’s cymbal work and Grissett’s comping. Pelt steps up and his bracing solo brings to mind Freddie Hubbard’s power from the the 1960s. The Blue Note vibe we hear is attributable to the inimitable Rudy Van Gelder, who engineered, mixed, and mastered this Aug. 11, 2009 session.
Each of the band members contribute one composition, and Jeremy wrote the other four tracks. This is a tight band and their ease in both following and spurring on Pelt is felt on Milo Hayward, named for Pelt’s young son. Brooklyn Bound is a contemplative post bop number where all the members shine. Danny Grissett’s strong presence is both felt here as well as on Danny Mack (possibly written by Pelt for Grissett?). Allen and Pelt blend as solidly here as did Miles and Wayne Shorter in the late 60s.
Drummer Gerald Cleaver wrote From a Life of the Same Name, where once again the band’s ensemble playing is telepathic, especially the sympatico that Pelt and Allen share. Pelt’s Illusion follows and his harmon mute shares honors with Dwayne Burno’s bass accompaniment, as Grissett plays sparkling chords.
Cleaver drives Us/Them as J.D. Allen contributes several strong choruses with Grissett showing his prowess before Cleaver returns to take charge again. Without You, the closer to Men Of Honor, shows Pelt’s lyrical side with a ballad written by Grissett.
The liner notes to this CD mention that Pelt is proud to keep this band together at a time when many band leaders’ rosters change after a single CD or long tour. Pelt definitely has a band whose future is limitless. As long as Pelt features his bandmates’ writing, we can hope that these men of honor continue their journey together for a good while.
TrackList: Backroad, Milo Hayward, Brooklyn Bound, Danny Mack, From a Life of the Same Name, Illusion, Us/Them, Without You
– Jeff Krow
