Jeremy Pelt (trumpet); Chien Chien Lu (vibes); Victor Gould (piano); Vicente Archer (double bass); Allan Mednard (drums)
At 44 Jeremy Pelt wasn't around during Blue Note's glory years. If he had been on the scene at the time, he'd have been one of the label's most bankable names. Here at Small's, the trumpeter and bandleader promoted his new album in the company of his marvellous quintet. Griot: This is Important! is Pelt's exploration of the west African Griot culture. The recording is part music, part spoken word. This evening's performance would concentrate on the music with Pelt's between-tunes commentary borrowing from his recently published book Griot*.
Underdog opened the first house live stream. Pelt's protégé, vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu, took her cues from the bandleader, the rhythm section - Victor Gould, piano, Vicente Archer, bass, Allan Mednard, drums - required little in the way of direction, having been there, done that, often with Mr J Pelt.
Our erudite bandleader thanked veteran bassist Paul West (87 years young, ex-Dizzy, Pres, Max Roach and more, many more) for providing the title of the second number of the evening, Carry Christ Wherever You Are. Superb trumpet playing by Pelt with drummer Mednard kicking it along in style. CC Lu soloed at length on Don't Dog the Source (saxophonist JD Allen the source of the title). This NYC live stream ticked all the boxes and Pelt's fine quintet went out with Solidarity.
* Jeremy Pelt's recently published book of conversations/interviews with significant figures from the jazz world - Griot: Examining the lives of jazz's great storytellers vol 1 is available from: www.jeremypelt.net.
Russell
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