When Alto master/educator Jackie McLean recommended one of his students, trombonist Steve Davis, to Art Blakey, Davis slid right in, and the message was clear - this cat, who grew up in a house filled with the sounds of Motown, Memphis and Philadelphia, with jazz as his North Star, set a course that would include time in Chick Corea’s Origin Band, the Aforementioned Jazz Messengers, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Christian McBride, in addition to his steady career leading his own ensembles. This ensemble, captured live at Smoke in New York City, has Steve with the front line of trumpeter Eddie Henderson and saxophonist Ralph Moore, outstanding pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Lewis Nash.
After one listen to this program of Monk, Miles, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Willis, alongside a stellar reimagination of the evergreen Star Eyes, it's hard to believe this sextet has not previously performed together. It's obvious that individual imagination and collective legacy lead the way.
