The MALT quartet brought a distinct shift of stylistic genre as the only group presenting a hard-swinging set of straight-ahead jazz. Saxophonist Tom Peterson's playing was a highlight and bassist Armando Compean's vocals enhanced one of the afternoon's most musically engaging performances.

Back to the jazz club setting, more of the great ones out and performing, in this case at Michael D's Santa Rosa Café and Jazz Club in Camarillo, and in the person of MALT. That's an acronym made up of the first name initials of Matt Harris, piano, Armando Compean, bass, Lee Spath, drums and Tom Peterson, tenor saxophone. Their talent is well displayed on their current cd titled MALT. The quartet's musicianship made it a worthwhile evening with a program of favorites like, "Have You Met Miss Jones," "What's New?," "Sunny Gets Blue," "Pennies from Heaven," which was the first of several vocalsby bassist Compean: "Eagle Flies on Friday," and a Harris composition, "Mattito."

The CD Spin... MALT, a brand new CD, is an acronym extracted from the first names of pianist Matt Harris, bassist Armando Compean, drummer Lee Spath and saxophonist Torn Peterson. It is, in effect, their declaration of independence, an outlet for them to create the music they want to play in the way they want to play it. Eight of the eleven tracks on the CD are original tunes by one or the other of the quartet. Harris was responsible for five of them, with Compean having written two and Spath one.

Things get off to a fast start with Harris' "The Prez," a swinging bebop tribute to the late Lester Young. Saxophonist Tom Peterson's solo opens in this fast-paced piece, followed by Harris at the piano, all the while with Armando Compean's effective walking bass and Lee Spath's tasty drum work moving them along. The pace then slows down to a ballad-like rendering of "Now I Know," an Armando Compean tune, beautifully presented by Peterson on haunting soprano sax and, with Compean soloing pizzicato at his bass.

Other composers' music selected for this CD were J. Scofield's "Still Warm," L. Matthews' "Shenanigans" and the memorable, "What's New?" by Bob Haggart and Johnny Burke.

Harris scores melodically with his song, "Looking Glass" on which Peterson, one of the finest saxophonists anywhere, does the solo, impressively and expressively, on tenor. At his piano, Harris touches the keys lovingly in his presentation of his tune. Spath's and Compean's rhythm accompaniment leave nothing to be desired in this fine presentation.

Other tunes in this hour-long CD are Compean's "Freedom This," L. Spath- D. Kilman's "Squiggy," Harris' "Reflections," "Mattito" and "Vapors."

MALT is a swinging, straight-ahead jazz recording featuring four noted and accomplished proponents of the genre who, by virtue of their creativity and playing talent, have given fans a real musical gem in this CD. It is available at cdbaby.com or maltjazz.com.

"I'm just lucky I still work. I work enough to be able to pursue what I want to pursue at this time in my life. What can be better? I'm playing jazz. That's what I always wanted to do." (T. Peterson).

To the observer, Peterson's work history since he arrived in Los Angeles appears like a trip down the glory road. Besides the Tonight Show [for 17 years in Doc Severinsen's band] and other big bands he has played in, his free lancing resulted in his performing on studio jobs such as the Sonny & Cher Show, the Dinah Shore Show, M*A*S*H, Simon & Simon, several Walt Disney projects and many other shows. Name the star and he was in the band behind him or her: like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Allen, Joe Williams, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme and Natalie Cole. "I was lucky. I got to play with Bill Holman's band for six years, and I play with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin band for 8-1/2 years." (T.Peterson)

Motion picture recordings, among others, have been Drugstore Cowboy, True Crimes, Primary Colors, Oliver & Company, Rising Sun and the PBS Clint Eastwood documentary. He has scores of composing and arranging credits for the might in music.

He spends much of his time with small groups such as MALT, a quartet with pianist Matt Harris, bassist Armando Compean and drummer Lee Spath. MALT, an acronym based on the first names of the musicians, frequently plays at the Bellavino Wine Bar in Thousand Oaks.

"One of the most inspirational things I've done in recent years is adjudicating at jazz festivals, at schools, notably at the Reno Jazz Festival. They bring in college and high school bands from a five state area in the Pacific Northwest. If you want inspiration, it answers the questions of is there a future for this music. Absolutely!" (T. Peterson)