ProJazz.net

“Trombone ace Steve Davis has put together a new sextet, introduced here on a set of inspired new compositions and fresh arrangements of classic jazz tunes…The musicians show tremendous enthusiasm for the material, eloquently arranged by Davis for a three-horn front line à la Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers of which the trombonist was a member in the early 90s.” – Ed Enright, DownBeat.

“Steve Davis new sextet is a tight, crisp, nuanced group, exceedingly well-schooled in the art of hardbop and carries on the tradition of Blakey, McLean, Silver, et al., with power and panache.” – Joel Roberts, The New York City Jazz Record.


“Like the best Messengers albums, Davis includes a bit of everything within the hard bop tradition: a medium shuffle ( Song for My Love ), an up-tempo Latin groove (“Bautista s Revenge,” featuring guest percussionist Cyro Baptista and one of several blistering, transcription-worthy solos by Escoffery), and a ballad, “Peace”; The latter showcases Davis warm, vocalizing tone, round like Curtis Fuller’s with an economy of expression and a legato crispness that never feels clipped.” – Aidan Levy, JazzTimes.

Track listing:

01 Embarcadero (Steve Davis) 5:57
02 Subtlety (Steve Davis) 8:53
03 Batista’s Revenge (Steve Davis) 5:59
04 Song for My Love (Steve Davis) 7:05
05 Newbie (Steve Davis) 5:27
06 Peace (Horace Silver) 7:16
07 Can’t Complain (Steve Davis) 6:21
08 Think on Me (George Cables) 7:01
09 Blues for Owen (Steve Davis) 5:39
10 A Child Is Born (Thad Jones) 6:18
11 Inner Glimpse (McCoy Tyner) 8:01

Personnel:

Steve Davis – trombone
Joshua Bruneau – trumpet
Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone
Xavier Davis – piano
Dezron Douglas – bass
Jonathan Barber – drums
Cyro Baptista – percussion on “Batista’s Revenge”

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Original Release Date: March 8, 2019
Label: Smoke Sessions Records