Recent Press on "Silvester Battlefield":

All About Jazz New York - From the February, 2008 issue (review by Elliott Simon)
"New York City continues to be a nexus for jazz musicians from all quarters. Unmatched conservatory performance curriculum combined with world-class working venues and an audience open to creativity continues to make NYC the most vibrant jazz scene in the world. Silvester Battlefield, from Canadian saxophonist Peter Van Huffel’s quintet, is illustrative of the kind of synergy that results when musicians get together and play in this fertile breeding ground." Read the full article.

Downtown Music Gallery Newsletter - September 28, 2007 (Bruce Lee Gallanter)
"This is former Canadian-based saxist, Peter Van Huffel's second disc and he has brought together an impressive downtown crew... It never to amaze me when an under-recognized gem like this turns out to be one of the year's best." Read the full article.

From www.All About Jazz.com - August, 24, 2007 ( Budd Kopman)
"Armed with a sharp tone and attack, keen rhythmic sense and a wry compositional attitude, saxophonist Peter Van Huffel makes one sit up and listen on Silvester Battlefield. The album is brimming with ideas that manage to sound abstract in their tonality and phrasing while, at that same time, being extremely logical..." Read the full article .

From The Toronto Star - Tuesday, June 12, 2007 (Geoff Chapman) * * *
"Talented Canadian reedman Van Huffel has survived musically in New York, where he currently leads a quintet of young lions that includes another Canadian exile, bassist Michael Bates. The well-attuned fivesome, who'll be at The Rex at 9:30 tonight to officially release the CD, are comfortable in the bop to free world, raging cheerily on the title tune (which refers to Germany's New Year's Eve celebrations), easing elegantly through "Good Mornings" and "Linnea's Folk Song" and wailing hard on "Rundles Peak." The sounds are never too dense, the approach is adaptable and each band member is acutely aware of his colleague's creative aims. Top track: "The Traveler" with style, rhythm and intensity in a constant state of flux."

From The Montreal Gazette - Thursday, June 14, 2007 (Irwin Block) ****
"Take nothing for granted when you check out this session with Canadian expatriate Peter Van Huffel leading his crew of New York musicians. They work the edge of post-bop jazz, and venture boldly beyond conventional rhythmic and harmonic patterns. A Kingston, Ont. native, saxophonist Van Huffel writes music that opens space for improvisation, sometimes on several levels simultaneously. And members of his quintet interact beautifully, taking their time to establish and maintain the tone and texture of each piece. Scott DuBois (guitar), Jesse Stacken (piano), Michael Bates (bass) and Jeff Davis (drums) are a cohesive team on eight originals. The results are compelling." Podworthy: Closed Tight

From the Village Voice - Jim MacNie, Thursday, May 24, 2007
"The Canadian Brooklynite has just dropped Silvester Battlefield, one of the more memorable Fresh Sounds discs in a while. In it the saxophonist proffers the kind of graceful turbulence that sidesteps melody yet delivers a compelling tunefulness. It’s all about the exploratory, and its inner structures keep you on the edge of your seat."

From Time Out New York - Steve Smith, Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Brooklyn-based Canadian saxophonist Peter Van Huffel leads his New York band in a preview of material from Silvester Battlefield, soon to be issued on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. An impressive session from beginning to end, the set proves Van Huffel to be a compelling melodist with a fiery outward-bound streak and a penchant for layering opposed rhythms in quirky, compelling ways..."

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