The Peck Allmond Group
Short Stories

THE REVIEW

A necessary highlight for a remarkable album by a young multi-instrumentalist: ‘promising’ yet clearly already quite mature. The CD was recorded in 2001, followed in 2002 by “Slow song” and in 2004 by “Kalimba collage”. Normally, those who play the alto sax well also perform well on the tenor and so on due to similarities. However, it's rare for someone who excels at the trumpet to play the sax with equal proficiency. Or the French horn. Or the contrabassoon. And vice versa while singing. The young man in question, however, besides being a very capable bandleader and wise enough to surround himself with musicians of notable caliber, manages to master: tenor sax, soprano, trumpet, cornet, wooden flute, “peckhorn” (a type of French horn that sounds halfway between a flugelhorn and trombone: beautiful!) with enviable results; not only from a merely technical point of view but for the expressive intensity and uniqueness of his melodic discourse. Additionally, eight tracks on the album out of eleven are his well-structured and intelligent compositions, he regularly performs live sessions and recordings with top jazz players overseas, and even Jackie McLean regularly plays his compositions in his band (see news on the site) and the plate begins to get mouth-watering for anyone constantly searching for valuable news in the jazz field.

Accompanying him in this endeavor are Gary Fisher on piano and some rare keyboard strings; Doug Weiss on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion. In tracks 5, 6, and 7, there is special guest Hans Teuber on alto sax; in tracks 7 and 11 Gaston Jean-Baptiste on percussion. To give an idea of the music contained, we can say it pertains, in terms of sound, to ‘late Mingus’; for the manner in which he composes and arranges, it still recalls the major composer-groups of the golden era of the 60s, with echoes at times more modern and at times openly nostalgic. Some references to Oregon and the European ECM tradition are also obviously noticeable, especially in the use of the wooden flute and the atmospheres of some tracks (She Moved Through the Fair). Undoubtedly a work of notable class, worthy of a modest investment; for many repeat listenings, in total relaxation and peace of mind with this great piece of contemporary jazz.

On Peck Allmond's website (not very up-to-date, however!), it is possible to hear MP3s of “Short Stories”: give it a... ‘sneak preview’ and tell me if it doesn't give you the same wonderful impression it gives me, here, after a quick lunch at work, listening to it from the CD and dedicating ten minutes to write this review, desiring a good coffee spiked with sambuca!!!!

 1. The River
 2. Zendik Farm
 3. Word from Tokyo
 4. Julian's Sound
 5. Dr. Strange
 6. She Moved Through the Fair
 7. Mr. Okufolo
 8. It Never Entered My Mind
 9. Santa Lucia
10. Seems Like Old Times
11. Jumping Mouse