Peter Arthur Loeb's new C.D. "Four of Me" is what jazz is supposed to be all about!
His skill as a multi-instrumentalist brings marvelous textures to the music.
The first time I heard Peter was in the summer of 1973 sitting in at the Village Gate with Sonny Stitt. Peter dealt with everything Stitt sent his way musically.
I was very much impressed with the way he played. It was very personal, and the exact opposite of the clone school of jazz playing, which I was hearing too much of at the time. Peter's tenor playing had roots in real jazz saxophone and creative depth. His solos told a story! To later find out about this multi-instrumental aspect of his music is mind blowing.
The two main ingredients of a personal musical language are tone and rhythm, specifically time feel. These are the areas where one's personality can be most easily discerned musically. An instrument should feel like an extension of the musician's body. Now add an entire quartet to that description, and you have one unique human being within all of these fascinating dimensions.
For instance, tone production, no matter the instrument, has several common elements whether it is through the breath and embouchure, as in horn playing, or the finger and hands in percussive instruments or a bass. There is the central principle of touch which is almost inexplicable. This is concerned with the appropriate balance between tension and release, exertion and relaxation - all matters of motion and how an individual's physical characteristics combined with aural and mental images result in a sound being produced. Listen to the ensemble sound Peter gets, and the way the solos gel and how modern and hip the actual band is. Wow!
Let me tell you, once you get inside this man's music a universe opens up!
And what a brilliant one of a kind universe it is. From composer to bassist to pianist and drummer there are very, very few musicians who can function like this. The results are just inspirational.
For me, his sound on tenor saxophone is vivid and wonderful. His solos on that horn are a work of art. Without question, Peter is one of the most stunning tenor players playing jazz today!
Attention! To pay attention, is to narrow the perception and accommodate a certain idea or feature. Once narrowed, it has the advantage of sharpness and clarity.
Conversely, to invest one's attention into the domain of Peter Arthur Loeb is to sharpen perception and broaden perspective. Within this great artist lies a spectrum of ideas and thoughts that have been developed through years of application.
Peter Arthur Loeb is most worthy of everyone's attention that is a jazz fan.
His multi-faceted philosophy of music is stated with clarity and eloquence at all times. Give all the facets of Peter Arthur Loeb your full attention.
Simply said, this recording is a modern day masterpiece, one you should have in your collection.
- Tim Price (a professional saxophonist, author and jazz journalist)