Trumpeter/composer and musical historian Jeremy Pelt mixes traditions here, combining modern jazz with the West African tradition of GRIOT, which is passing on oral histories. The clever idea brings in spoken commentaries by the likes of Larry Willis, Harold Mabern, Waren Smith, Ambrose Akinmusire, JD Allen and others, covering a wide variety of topics of social, racial, religious and political importance. The tie in to the music with his band of Chien Chien Lu/vib, Victor Gould/p, Vicent Archer/b, Allan Mednard/dr, Ismel WIgwall/perc and Brandee Younger/harp makes one feel like he’s taking in a musical theatre, as many of the speakers are musicians themselves.
As for the actual music, it is vintage acoustic Pelt, with a gorgeous tone on the ballad “Carry Christ Wherever You Are” and the muted “A Seat At The Table” with Bertha Hope. The rhythm team delivers a keen shuffle on the hip and blue “Don’t Dog the Source” with Lue giving rich vibes for the Latin lilt of “Solidarity” with sizzling on “Underdog”. This is an album that communicates in a variety of ways, showing the heart, mind and soul of an artist.