Guitarist
Peter Leitch can always be relied upon to play high-quality modern straight-ahead jazz. On this Reservoir CD, he heads a quintet that also features the underrated but talented
Jed Levy on tenor and (on two numbers) flute, pianist
George Cables, bassist
Dwayne Burno, and drummer
Steve Johns. The music is primarily hard bop, with the highlights including
Henry Mancini's "Theme from Mr. Lucky,"
Charlie Parker's obscure "Segment," and an unaccompanied acoustic guitar version of "East of the Sun." Most unusual is hearing a cover version of
Albert Ayler's "Ghosts," although
Leitch cheats a bit by turning the avant-garde piece into a calypso. He also contributes four originals, including the driving "Allyson."
Peter Leitch has continued to grow and evolve as a guitarist through the years, and he is in superior form throughout this enjoyable set. ~ Scott Yanow