Peter Curtis Quartet

Guitarist Peter Curtis has assembled a rather different lineup on this, his debut recording. Besides the usual bass (Jiro Plutschow) and drums (Richard Weller) he’s got Eldad Tarmu on vibes, which gives the group a novel sound. Although none of these is (yet) a household name, the group’s combined credits include playing and recording with Taj Mahal and Freddie Cole (Curtis); Freddie Hubbard and Billy Higgins (Tarmu); Andy Summers (Plutschow) and Diane Schuur and Fred Hersch (Weller). A native of Montreal, Curtis opens with “Je Me Souviens” (“I Remember”). A cheery tune, it showcases each player with Tarmu’s warm vibes nicely playing off Curtis’ classical guitar lines. Eight of the disc’s 11 selections (seven of them originals) feature Curtis’ acoustic guitar; most notably on Django Reinhardt’s “Nuages” (relaxed) and “The Thing” (ripping). In this electric age it may seem anachronistic to feature an acoustic guitar, but Curtis is a very gifted player who has chosen well on his stunning debut, effectively mixing tempos and styles (jazz, classical, Latin and blues). To show his “modern” side, Curtis gives Thelonious Monk’s “Four in One” the electric treatment, using several effects to make the tune even more gnarly. Recommended!