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Review
This guitar-vibes-bass-drums quartet initially reminds one of the Red Norvo-Tal Farlow-Charles Mingus vibes-guitar-bass trio of 1950. However Peter Curtis' group is more modern than that and not derivative of any past models. Curtis sometimes sounds a bit like Django Reinhardt while, for contrast, he occasionally adopts a rockish style, as on a humorous rendition of Thelonious Monk's "Four in One." Vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu is closer to Bobby Hutcherson than to Norvo while bassist Jiro Platscow and drummer Richard Weller are swinging and supportive of the lead voices. The fluency, constant creativity, and versatility of Curtis and Tarmu are quite impressive as is the range of compositions, which includes a jam on "What Is This Thing Called Love" ("The Thing"), a tango, an introspective ballad reading by Curtis on "My Foolish Heart," and some eccentric bebop. While the music is often boppish, it is full of surprises and unexpected left turns. Highly recommended.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Peter Curtis Quartet: Swing State available at cdbaby.com. "Peter Curtis puts a lot of thought and a lot of heart into his playing and writing. He has a beautiful sound, particularly on the acoustic guitar where his classical training comes through even in this jazz context. Also, the rhythm section supports the music tastefully and soulfully. I really enjoyed this CD" -- Mike Stern.

“Peter’s songs and playing jump right out at you. Each tune has a unique personality of its own and with the use of a beautifully recorded classical guitar and some electric (with occasional devices) playing, the improvising is equally strong and creative and a joy; the whole band is great!”
-- Gene Bertoncini

Peter Curtis Quartet
Swing State

self-released
By Miles Jordan <http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Archive?author=oid%3A3906>
Chico News and Review December 7th 2006
 
Guitarist Peter Curtis has assembled a rather different lineup on this, his debut recording. Besides the usual bass (Jiro Plutschow) and drums (Richard Weller) he’s got Eldad Tarmu on vibes, which gives the group a novel sound. Although none of these is (yet) a household name, the group’s combined credits include playing and recording with Taj Mahal and Freddie Cole (Curtis); Freddie Hubbard and Billy Higgins (Tarmu); Andy Summers (Plutschow) and Diane Schuur and Fred Hersch (Weller). A native of Montreal, Curtis opens with “Je Me Souviens” (“I Remember”). A cheery tune, it showcases each player with Tarmu’s warm vibes nicely playing off Curtis’ classical guitar lines. Eight of the disc’s 11 selections (seven of them originals) feature Curtis’ acoustic guitar; most notably on Django Reinhardt’s “Nuages” (relaxed) and “The Thing” (ripping). In this electric age it may seem anachronistic to feature an acoustic guitar, but Curtis is a very gifted player who has chosen well on his stunning debut, effectively mixing tempos and styles (jazz, classical, Latin and blues). To show his “modern” side, Curtis gives Thelonious Monk’s “Four in One” the electric treatment, using several effects to make the tune even more gnarly. Recommended! 

This self-produced CD from classical guitarist Peter Curtis, DM '05, released in 2006 is the professor of music's debut. Tenured at Riverside (Calif.) Community College, Curtis is no stranger to music departments. After earning a B.A. in music at the Berklee College of
Music and a master's from Yale, he received a doctor of music degree in classical guitar performance and literature with minors in ethnomusicology and music history from IU. This varied background gives his music a polished, restrained sound, and also variety. In
addition to original compositions, Curtis performs his own take on Stevie Wonder's "I Wish," Thelonious Monk's "Four in One," and Django Reinhardt's "Nuages." Curtis's exceptional technique and composing is infused with a great sense of humor. "Suz' Blues," he writes in
the liner notes, is a song that starts out a "12 bar blues for the first several measures then turns out not to be, just as the woman for whom it was written seemed nice when we started dating..." The title piece was written in 2004, when the phrase "swing state" was ubiquitous. The 11-track album ends on a rich, nostalgic note with the beautiful "My Foolish Heart." Curtis will next compose a musical, a romantic comedy that, fittingly, satirizes the academic
world.
-- Indiana Alumni Magazine, April 2007

"Curtis is performing in support of his excellent new release 'Swing State.' The 11-song collection exploits Curtis' limber fingers and knack for spidering up and down the fret board. Any fan of jazz guitar will dig this one."
-- Paul Saitowitz, the Press Enterprise

"Curtis' silky, uber-cool music style is garnering rave reviews"
-- William Clark, Viewpoints