Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Peter Martin: In the P.M.

Peter Martin: In the P.M.

By C. Michael Bailey
July 6, 2005
Sign in to view read count

Peter Martin is an intelligent, erudite pianist with a careful and acute ear for composing and arranging. He decided to demonstrate both talents by sneaking into studio with his long time trio mates, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson. These three players are hot off a supporting gig with vocalist Dianne Reeves. While primarily a piano trio instrumental recording, In The P.M. does feature up and coming vocalist Erin Bode on three of eleven selections.

In The P.M. offers a very contemporary take on the trio format. The Livingston-Evans chestnut "Never Let Me Go" sets the smart grove of the recording with crystalline exposition of Martin's musical ideas. The pianist's ballad take on the Stevie Wonder composition "If It's Magic" is a rich harmonic-melodic interpolation that establishes a new jazz standard.

Martin's composition "Modern Cacophony" highlights the pianist's command of percussive rhythm and time. Bassist Reuben Rogers provides the soulful "'Ting for Ray, showing off the trio's blues chops. The group's ballad prowess is solidified with the great J.J. Johnson's "Lament.

And then there is Erin Bode, who emerged with her 2004 release, Don't Take Your Time . She has a voice as fresh as a day lily and an effervescent approach that requires no makeup. All three of her feature pieces, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "The Nearness Of You," and "It Could Happen To You," boast well for her precise intonation and delivery. In short, perfect jazz singing for the listener who wants to really hear how the composers intended the songs to sound.

I fully recommend this recording and Martin's previous MaxJazz offering, Something Unexpected , from 2002. This is smart music.

Track Listing

Never Let Me Go; If It's Magic; You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To; Come Rain or Come Shine; Modern Cacophony; Only in a Dream; The Answer; Lament; 'Ting for Ray; The Nearness of You; It Could Happen to You.

Personnel

Peter Martin

piano

Peter Martin- piano, Fender Rhodes; Reuben Rogers- bass; Greg Hutchinson- drums; Erin Bode- vocals on "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "The Nearness of You" and "It Could Happen to You."

Album information

Title: In the P.M. | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: MAXJAZZ

< Previous
More Than Ever

Next >
Bye Bye Blackbird

Comments

About Peter Martin

Instrument: Piano

Tags

Peter Martin CD/LP/Track Review C. Michael Bailey JANLYN PR - Jana La Sorte MAXJAZZ United States In the P.M.

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.