Jazz vibraphonist Piltzecker takes listeners on a musical journey, reflecting influences from Brazil, India and Africa.

A funny thing happened on the way to Ted Piltzecker's arrival as a jazz trumpeter -- he became a vibraphonist. 'I was a trumpet major at the Eastman School of Music,' explains the New Jersey native, 'but I had a set of vibes in my dorm room and I would practice all the time. I played trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble, then directed by Chuck Mangione. One thing led to another, and I started writing some vibes things for myself with the band.'

His transformation to full-time vibes player came after a tour with The George Shearing Quintet. 'I used to bring the trumpet with me when I was touring in Shearing's band,' he recalls, 'and I'd practice in the back of the bus with a whisper mute. I was never interested in being a screamer lead trumpet guy, and admired players like Art Farmer and Clark Terry. But at one point I realized that I was done with it. So when I got off one of the Shearing tours, I put the trumpet in the case, closed it, and it was out of the house the next day. I never touched it again.

As a born-again vibraphonist, Ted has performed with many of the great names in jazz, including guitarists Gene Bertoncini and Vic Juris, bassists Rufus Reid and Andy Simpkins, drummers Lewis Nash, Dennis Mackrel and Clarence Penn, pianists Jim McNeeley, John Hicks and Bill Charlap, and saxophonists Chris Potter and Javon Jackson.

The title Brindica reflects cultural influences from Brazil, India, and Africa but there are also stops in Bali, Cuba, Puerto Rico, New Orleans and Harlem. The diverse musical landscapes, people and traditions that Piltzecker encountered in his travels are woven into the tapestry of this very engaging album.

Up-and-coming vocalist Taylor Burgess turns in a haunting interpretation of Langston Hughes' poem What Happens to a Dream Deferred? with appropriately noirish backing from Piltzecker and his empathetic crew.

Bill Milkowski

Track Listing

• Great Idea! Who Pays'
• Uncle Peck
• Feliz Paseo
• Brindica
• Look At It Like This
• Ogoh, Ogoh
• Por Supuesto
• What Happens to a Dream Deferred
• From the Center
• Uncle Peck Reprise

Additional Details

Label: Zoho

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 54 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/09/18

UPC: 880956181028