j-notes: How do you select the music for your recordings?
Jeremy Pelt: "This recording was different in that my previous two CD’s (Profile, on Fresh Sound New Talent, and Insight, on Criss Cross rec.), feature original music. For this project, I wanted to do standards that weren't your run-of-the-mill, often performed songs. So, I bought tons of music books from every composer and scanned through them. Also, I listened to a lot of vocalists (Frank Sinatra, Bill Henderson, Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn, are among my favorites) to find songs that were very personal to me. I should also say that, with the inclusion of Frank Loesser’s "In Your Eyes", (a song that I don’t believe has ever been recorded!) I wanted to make the definitive version of this song. At the risk of sounding conceited, I think I did!"
j-notes: Are there any other types of music you would like to record?
Jeremy Pelt: "There are always ideas that I have popping in my head. My next record will be a definite departure from the current one."
j-notes: Would you consider scoring a film?
Jeremy Pelt: "I majored in film scoring at Berklee College of Music, so my answer is a resounding "YES". I'm trying to get into that now. If any filmmakers out there are reading this, I'm your man!!!"
j-notes: What are your thoughts on your comparisons to trumpet great Clifford Brown?
Jeremy Pelt: "If you are a trumpeter doing a ballads record with strings, Clifford is going to pop in everyone's head! I'm totally comfortable with the comparison. We parallel each other in that, we both REALLY wanted to do this project because of the love of these melodies. Not for reasons of mass appeal, or cashing in. Incidentally, no one ever mentions the great Donald Byrd w/strings album from 1956 (or '57), that Clare Fisher arranged.. That album is GREAT!!"
j-notes: Who would you like to play with?
Jeremy Pelt: "I'd love to play with Hank Jones, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Shirley Horn."
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