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Peter King Quintet Speed Trap Jazz House Retro JHRT402

1. Mr Silver
2. My man’s Gone Now
3. T.N.K.
4. Naima
5. Speed Trap
6. Getting On

Peter King – Alto, Soprano
Gerard Presencer –Trumpet
Steve Melling – Piano
Alec Dankworth – Bass
Steven Keoch – Drums
Recorded Live at Ronnie Scott’s Club, London, September 1994.

If Peter king had lived in the USA, he would be an international jazz star, of that there can be no doubt and when you listen to his performance here, surely the same can be said of Gerard Presencer. Remarkably, Peter is self-taught. In the sleeve note, there is a copy of a note he received in 1995 from Chan Parker, Charlie’s widow, who describes Peter as a ‘keeper of the flame’ and expressing her admiration for his playing.

Gerard Presencer suddenly appeared in the NYJO band at the age of about sixteen, remarkably, he was at that young age already the complete jazz trumpeter. Peter and Gerard had worked together before in the Charlie Watts Quintet, which proved such a success at the Blue Note Club in New York.

The Rhythm section is made up of equally talented musicians Steve Melling, Alec Dankworth and Steven Keoch, who would be capable of working with anyone on the jazz scene anywhere.

The musical selection is interesting with two good original compositions from Peter, the title track Speed Trap, as up-tempo as the name implies and Getting On, which has a slower more funky feel. There is also the Gershwin standard My Man’s Gone now, Naima from John Coltrane’s library, as well as the tribute to Horace Silver in the opening track. T.N.K. has an unknown composer, which is a shame as it’s a more than worthy composition.

If you want a record to demonstrate that British jazz musicians can compete on a world stage, here it is1

 

Don Mather

 

 

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