Musicians: Peter Lerner (guitar), Jim Rotondi (trumpet flugelhorn), Jerry Dodgion (alto sax, alto flute, flute), Eric Alexander (tenor sax), Steve Davis (trombone), David Hazeltine (piano, organ), Ed Howard (bass), Victor Lewis (drums).
Review:
Chicago based guitarist Peter Lerner has come forth with another tasteful CD showing his class and style with a versatile lineup of colorful tunes and an ensemble to match. Cry For Peace demonstrates Lerner’s skills as a flawless guitarist and composer. Lerner has toured and played with Ramsey Lewis, Lee Konitz, Gladys Knight, and Patti Labelle, just to name a few, and he is a faculty member at Columbia College in Chicago.
Listening to Cry For Peace, one gets the sense of being part of an important search. Lerner’s arrangements seem to probe through the space and time usually reserved for personal reflection and contemplation. Pulling on the heart of humanity, the search for tranquility is endless, but comes to rest, even if temporarily, in the warmth of Cry For Peace. With purpose and direction, the ensemble offers an inner peace with exquisite mastery, pure tone, and beautiful inflection on lush ballads like the title track, and on straight ahead swingers like “Lerner Burner” and “Minority.”
Cry For Peace features an ensemble of extremely talented artists including David Hazeltine on piano and organ, Ed Howard on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. The horn line is composed of Jim Rotondi on trumpet, Jerry Dodgion on alto sax and flutes, Eric Alexander on tenor sax, and Steve Davis on trombone. Peter Lerner’s guitar playing is refreshing and original. The arrangements on Cry For Peace highlight the depth of each musician’s versatility.
JazzReview.com
