Peace Vibes

New York vibraphonist, Ted Piltzecker returns to Denver, Colorado for a follow-up to his release of 2023 titled "Vibes on a Breath."

This time, on his album called "Peace Vibes" he has teamed up with trumpeter Brad Goode. Ted also adds South American percussionists to the mix, bringing Brazilian culture and Peruvian culture into his arrangements. They provide rich, unexpected textures into his jazz repertoire.

Opening with the familiar Benny Golson tune, "Whisper Not," Gonzalo Teppa plays a warm, bass introduction, invigorated by Romaine's drum licks. Piltzecker enters on vibraphone. The ensemble's sound is warm and comfortable. Goode's trumpet blasts onto the scene, not as warm, but with great bravado. Towards the end of the arrangement, Paul Romaine is featured on trap drums.

Piltzecker has chosen a number of classic jazz tunes for this "Peace Vibes" album, as well as a few of his own compositions. "Lando Bear" is one of his original tunes. There are parts of this rhythmic arrangement that remind me of Native American Indian music.

The group swings hard on "Bluesette", the Toots Thieleman hit song and standard jazz tune. They follow this with Golson's "I Remember Clifford" written for the great trumpeter Clifford Brown. Brad Goode offers a very lovely solo, applying great tenderness to his trumpet song. Teppa also takes a notable bass solo during this arrangement.

The great tunesmith and band leader, Duke Ellington wrote "In A Sentimental Mood" in 1935. It quickly became a jazz standard and has been recorded thousands of times. In this Piltzecker arrangement, he plays it as a loping samba, this time playing marimba with a cuica solo that adds interest to the piece, transporting us to some humid jungle full of bird calls and animal sounds.

All in all, this is a wonderful Latin flavored album of energized and reimagined jazz tunes, featuring the melodic and percussive talents of Ted Piltzecker on vibraphone and marimba. The addition of virtuoso trumpeter, Brad Goode and South American percussion players Vinicius Barros and Hugo Alcazar elevate this project.