It seems like just yesterday the trumpeter and composer Jeremy Pelt, was a young musician first arriving in New York City looking to make his way through the competitive jazz waters. He is now recognized as a well-established artist with a definitive sound that lingers in your mind like a warm summer kiss. His sublime rhythms move with the carefree subtlety of a fluttering butterfly. He carries on with beautiful lyrical phrasing and captivating solos similar to trumpeters like Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd.
On March 27-30 at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club (2751 Broadway) Pelt, one of the sharp dressers in jazz, will lead an exceptional quintet featuring vibraphonist Jalen Baker, guitarist Misha Mendelenko, bassist Leighton McKinley Harrell, and drummer Jared Spears — in celebration of his January 2025 release, “Woven.” The release is a captivating exploration that blends the rich textures of 21st-century jazz with the dynamic possibilities of electronically synthesized sound. This collection of nine tracks, mostly original compositions, highlights Pelt’s masterful artistry as both an instrumentalist and a composer, committed to expanding the quilted setting of jazz. For reservations visit smokejazz.com.
On March 28, The Jazz Gallery (1158 Broadway), a music maverick in the deep sea of jazz dwellings will present the resourceful alto saxophonist and composer Steve Lehman celebrating the musical legacy of NEA Jazz Master Anthony Braxton, in honor of his 80th birthday. Lehman will be joined by his longtime piano-less trio of bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid with special guest tenor saxophonist Mark Turner. Their new release “The Music of Anthony Braxton was released earlier this year on Pi Recordings.
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Few are better qualified to present the originality of Braxton than Lehman who appears on over 15 recordings with the multi-instrumentalist (who favors his alto saxophone) and was a core member of his various performing ensembles from 1999-2007. Unfortunately, Lehman has but one night to share the multifaceted treasures of Braxton’s music.
Braxton’s unbridled creativity became apparent to newfound listeners upon hearing him playing over ten instruments on his debut album “3 Compositions of New Jazz” (Delmark 1968). The album’s trio configuration included violinist Leroy Jenkins and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, with pianist Muhal Richard Abrams playing on two tracks. That following year, he recorded the double LP “For Alto” (Delmark 1969), one of the first complete solo saxophone recordings.
He has recorded religiously on a yearly basis, sometimes releasing three or four recordings within a single year, since his debut recording in 1968. He introduced his 13-CD boxset “Quartet” (Standards 2020). Since 2012, he’s released two 4-CD operas; a 7-CD set of the music of Lennie Tristano and associated artists; an 11-CD set of Charlie Parker’s music; a memorable CD “Six Monk Compositions” (Black Saint 1987), and an audio Blu-ray of 12 compositions for sextet, septet, and nonet, totaling over 11 hours of music. And there’s more!
To witness the Steven Lehman Trio + Turner resourcefulness as they journey through their interpretations of Braxton’s far-reaching repertoire will be a joyful excursion. For tickets and information visit jazzgallery.org.
Saxophonist and composer Emilio Modeste is considered a young lion in the same realm as Josh Evans, Camille Thurman, or Marcus Gilmore. Fundamentally, the term references those who are virtuosos, a young emerging talent ready to rocket into the jazz stratosphere like a riveting Charlie Parker solo.
Modeste’s new project, INSTANT ALTER, features four abled young visionaries, co-led by the saxophonist and vocalist/composer Natasha Agrama, with bassist Ryoma Takenaga, and drummer Miguel Russell with inventive special guests keyboards/vocals Black Buttafly and drummer Kassa Overall. This work was commissioned by Roulette.
On April 2, at Brooklyn’s Roulette music hall (509 Atlantic Avenue), INSTANT ALTER will present their unique art of storytelling inspired by the genre-bending jazz-rock bands of the past as well as the radical protest of psychedelia and Brazilian Tropicália.
Modeste has curated a distinctive sound that represents a progressive 21st century outlook with music most certainly for now and beyond that embraces peace and disruption with immediate attention and care. INSTANT ALTER’s debut album is produced by Return to Forever bandmates Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, and is set to be released later this year.
The young native New Yorker was fortunate enough during his formative years to be mentored by a virtuoso in his own right, trumpeter and composer Wallace Roney. He studied and toured with Roney’s Quintet from 2017 until his transition in 2020. He appeared on Roney’s final studio album, “Blue Down-Blue Nights.”
As a teen, he also came under the tutelage of drummer and producer Lenny White. During COVID, the saxophonist along with a host of established musicians zoomed in on White’s Friday night music discussions and workshops that often continued past midnight. Proficient on tenor or soprano saxophones, Modeste explores endless styles of musical expression in his artistry inspired by his mentorships and playing with such renowned artists as Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Donald Harrison, Gary Bartz, Will Calhoun, Patrice Rushen, Antoine Roney, Kojo Roney (another young lion), Rene McLean, and Christian McBride.
Modeste has developed a fierce intonation that instantly draws listeners into his fascinating excursion of melodic sounds which has earned him a chair in the bands of Stanley Clarke, Cindy Blackman Santana, and Dezron Douglas. He can be heard on Steve Turre’s “Generations” (Smoke Records) and Douglas’ “Atalaya” (International Anthem 2022).
During this Roulette outing, INSTANT ALTER will invite their heroes, influences, and collaborators to share the stage with them, in a celebratory affirmation of yesterday’s history, now, and beyond tomorrow. For tickets visit roulette.org.
JOHJASz (Junior One Hundred Jazz All Stars) is a revolving ensemble of aspiring musicians who are high school and college students, committed to a minimum eight-week intensive music mentorship program sponsored by the NYC Young Men’s Initiative, and One Hundred Black Men of New York. Some of the ensemble members recently graduated high school and are now attending colleges in the tri-state area. Some recently graduated college and are working in various fields, as well as pursuing their musical endeavors while participating in JOHJASz.
On April 4 with a propelling wind of standing ovations pushing them forward, JOHJASz will swing into Harlem at the Harlem Community Center (228 East 125th Street) with their youthful take on popular R&B soul, interpreted in the jazz tradition. The ensemble will be performing under the direction of Tony and Grammy Award winner trumpeter Reggie Pittman.
The event celebrating April International Jazz Month will include a screening of the informative documentary “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes,” a panel discussion with Raoul Roach and film producer Ben Shapiro moderated by yours truly Ron Scott. The evening will also acknowledge April 4, as the unforgettable day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel, in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. It is important to discuss the significance of Dr. King’s horrendous terrorist assassination as the world observes the daily destruction of America’s so-called democracy being demolished under the misguided leadership of insanity.