Willie Jones III Quartet Ft. Jeremy Pelt

Grammy-winning drummer Willie Jones III brings his powerhouse hard-bop quartet to Black Cat, featuring contemporary jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt for what promises to be an evening of straight-ahead swing at its finest. This is part of a multi-night residency running through the weekend.

Jones has earned his reputation as one of modern jazz's most dynamic and respected drummers through decades at the highest level of the scene. A longtime member of Roy Hargrove's acclaimed quintet and driving force behind Hargrove's electrifying RH Factor, Jones brings the hard-swinging tradition of Art Blakey and Philly Joe Jones to life with his own elegant rhythmic expression. His résumé reads like a who's who of jazz royalty: performances and recordings with Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Pelt, a multiple DownBeat Rising Star award winner, matches Jones's intensity with his commanding trumpet work. Known for his bebop fluency and hard-bop authority, Pelt has carved out a reputation as one of contemporary jazz's premier voices through collaborations with Ravi Coltrane, Roy Hargrove, and Jimmy Heath, plus 25 albums as a leader.

Together, they specialize in what one critic called "uptempo, rip-roaring straightahead" jazz. Reviews of their live performances describe Pelt's "astounding velocity" and ability to "build bebop on top of bebop," while Jones provides what another writer called "inspiring fireworks" behind the kit, connecting with soloists "right on time with the stick tips."

The quartet rounds out with pianist Tyler Bullock II and bassist Mike Gurrola. Expect a repertoire drawing from Jones's critically acclaimed recordings including Fallen Heroes (2021), My Point Is... (2017), and The Willie Jones III Sextet Plays the Music of Max Roach (2013), plus classic hard-bop and post-bop material that showcases the group's deep swing feel and improvisational firepower.