On 2012's outstanding
Soul
, trumpeter
Jeremy Pelt
showcased the fruit of his ensemble's six-plus years working together, gelling into a seamlessly cohesive, intuitive unit who knew how to push one another in the studio as well as on the bandstand. But all things change. On
Water and Earth
,
Pelt
's fourth date on
HighNote
, he showcases an entirely different band, playing a very different music. The lineup features seasoned veterans including bassist
Burniss Earl Travis
and percussionist
Jeffrey Haynes
, alongside somewhat younger players such as pianist
David Bryant
, saxophonist
Roxy Coss
, and drummer
Dana Hawkins
. The music on
is a study in contrasts, using post-bop and circular rhythms together, adding in electric elements and more open spaces. Opener "Reimagine the World" is a laid-back, shuffling groove fueled mainly by
's limpid horn and
Bryant
's tight chord voicings, before
Angela Roberts
and
Fabiana Masili
add their chorus of wordless voices which surprise near the exit. "Mystique" is a loosely composed melody offered by
Coss
' soprano atop
Hawkins
Haynes
before being joined by
Travis
's Rhodes, and
pushing over the top. The intro to "Boom Bishop" is all percussive fire with an incendiary, furious head shared by
" tenor. She solos first, double-timed by
offering a fluid series of breaks and driving accents.
follows using a wah-wah pedal in his own solo.
's punchy Rhodes and
' acoustic and electric bass set up a circular rhythmic interplay that locks the tune in. Other than on the lovely, straight-ahead ballad "Meditations on a Conversation We Had,"
uses effects on all following tracks. His attempt at a spacy R&B on "Stay," with
Ra-Ra Valverde
on vocals, simply doesn't work. "Pieces of a Dream" is a knottier post-bop tune, albeit one played with electric instruments, and it features excellent solo work by
. In addition, the interplay between
, and
is killer. The closer "Butterfly Dreams" is a floating ballad and among the most beautiful tunes on the set, with lovely restrained work from
, as well as gorgeous layers of brushed cymbals. On
, the trumpeter is surely reaching for something new. At its best it is compelling, noteworthy; elsewhere, his search proves mercurial and elusive. ~ Thom Jurek