A glance at the older gentleman on the cover of The History of Jazz, Vol. 2: Dedications might convince the listener that the music within originates from some bygone era. A good guess, perhaps, but only half right. Bassist
Michael Moore has had a long distinguished career and he does enjoy older styles, but he continues to make vibrant and accessible jazz. Here he is joined once again by clarinetist/tenor
Ken Peplowski and drummer
Tom Melito on a few classics and a few originals. The spare arrangements create a spacious sound that is loose and intimate. There's a bouncy five-minute take on
Cannonball Adderley's "Wabash," with
Peplowski's fluid clarinet lines circling above a busy rhythm section. A kinder, gentler approach offers a delicate rendering of
Moore's "Cave for the Heart: For Bill Evans," while the boys pull out all the stops for "Cherokee." The music never feels like a nostalgia trip, partly because of the sparkling performances but also because this trio plays several contemporary pieces. There's the bizarre post-bop of "Shorter Tale: For Wayne Shorter" and a lovely version of
Miles Davis' "Nardis."
Moore,
Peplowski, and
Melito show themselves to be flexible and exciting players on The History of Jazz, Vol. 2. Fans of each of the players will enjoy this historical survey. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.