Hignote Novita' : Jeremy Pelt e Ernestine Anderson

Jeremy Pelt's The Talented Mr. Pelt





Quando pensiamo ad una casa discografica che abbia un'idea di cosa sia il jazz, di cosa sia stato il jazz e come si stia evolvendo, penso di non poter essere smentito se dico che il primo pensiero corra all'etichetta Highnote. Per coloro che desiderano suffragare tale affermazione ecco la nuova produzione di questo personaggio semplicemente gigantesco: l’acclamato trombettista emergente Jeremy Pelt, con l’atteso seguito di “Man Of Honor”.

Jeremy Pelt's "The Talented Mr. Pelt" is just the kind of album one thinks of when it comes to how jazz is supposed to be: cool, confident, swinging and just a little mysterious. Pelt's group is that rarest of all things in jazz, a working band, and the familiarity and communication that come from extensive time spent playing together is evident. All the players are among the foremost 30-something neo-bop players in jazz today giving the group an all-star-type reputation with a well-rehearsed sound that comes only with familiarity and countless gigs. Pelt's own playing has earned accolades for his staggering virtuosity, which has elicited comparisons to trumpet icons like Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard, as well as for his studious, cerebral approach to the music.

Jeremy Pelt, trumpet, flugelhorn;
J.D. Allen, tenor saxophone;
Danny Grissett, piano;
Dwayne Burno, bass; Gerald Cleaver, drums




Ernestine Anderson – Nightlife





Solo l’Highnote di Joe Fields poteva firmare il ritorno di questa vocalist blues-jazz texana molto popolare negli anni ’60 /’70 grazie alla sua produzione per la Concord che aveva ottimizzato la voce di questa signora di colore, oggi ottantenne, dopo una lunga militanza nelle orchestre di Johnny Otis e di Lionel Hampton. Il nuovo album dal vivo la trova in ottima forma in compagnia di una stellare line-up di jazzisti contemporanei guidata da un altro veterano, il tenor sax Houston Person.

Honest-to-goodness, real-life jazz singing is almost as rare these days as a nickel cup of coffee. There are far too few remaining practitioners of the honorable art of singing good songs with the lift, the swing and the subtle blending of music and emotion that characterizes the work of the best jazz improvisers. Ernestine Anderson is one of those rare beings. Years of singing and living have shaped a vocalist who can make your heart cry one moment and dance the next. Poignant ballads, sassy swing, and down-home blues — Ernestine Anderson is master of them all. Here from the world-famous jazz-Mecca, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Ernestine is joined by tenor saxman Houston Person for a set of blues, sultry torch songs and up-tempo cookers, all of which convey a hypnotic and sensual presence that have earned her the title "jazz legend."

Ernestine Anderson, vocals;
Houston person, tenor saxophone;
Lafayette Harris Jr, piano;
Lonnie Plaxico, bass;
Jerome Jennings, drums