Jazzwise Gig Guide

Following its very welcome refurbishment this funky venue ups the ante with this booking, the first sizable US name to play in the wake of Robert Glasper's surprise booking at the end of last month. Trumpeter Pelt has been a five time recipient of Downbeat's Critics Poll for Top Rising Star and if his garrulous new live CD Shock Value  Live At Smoke is anything to go by he's more than lived up to such plaudits. Headlining here for two nights, Pelt delivers his post bop into electronic jazz-rock sound  much like bassist Christian McBride's exuberant funkified fusion excursions  with his astonishing band of Frank LoCrasto on Fender Rhodes & Hammond B-3, Gavin Fallow on bass, Dana Hawkins on drums, Al Street on guitar and Becca Stevens on vocals. This is powerful, typically hard grooving, US modern jazz at its absolute best Pelt's imaginative and sophisticated originals matched by top draw soloing from this hugely exciting band. Catch them tonight or tomorrow.