Jeremy Pelt formed a new quintet prior to the making of
November, featuring tenor saxophonist
JD Allen, pianist
Danny Grissett, bassist
Dwayne Burno, and drummer
Gerald Cleaver. Just 31 at the time of the sessions,
Pelt has developed into one of the top trumpeters of his generation, developing a distinctive sound of his own. For his fourth Maxjazz release, he composed nine striking originals, beginning with the free-form introduction "Mata" (honoring his grandmother), which adds his cousin
Jeff Haynes on percussion.
Pelt's trumpet and the ensemble passages shine in "Avatar," while he adds a mute for the snappy "Clairvoyant," also showcasing
Burno. The exchanges between
Pelt and
Allen are fueled in the breezy post-bop cooker "Phoenix" by
Burno and
Cleaver. The tension in "466-64 (Freedom Fighters)" is hardly surprising, as it was inspired by
Pelt's visit to
Nelson Mandela's tiny prison cell (in which he was incarcerated for 20 years), with the insistent rhythm backing the brisk yet haunting theme played by trumpet and tenor sax. Yet the most memorable piece may be
Pelt's gorgeous ballad "Rosalie," with
Grissett providing spacious accompaniment in this duo setting. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden