The Candid Jazz Masters (a sextet comprised of trumpeter
Claudio Roditi, altoist
Donald Harrison,
Ricky Ford on tenor, pianist
Kenny Barron, bassist
Larry Gales and drummer
Joe Chambers) pays tribute to pre-1960
Miles Davis on their CD. With the exception of
Ricky Ford's modal original "Milestrane," all of the tunes were recorded by
Davis during 1954-59 except for his "Nardis" which the trumpeter never got around to performing. Some of the ensembles were worked out in advance but the solos very much have the feel of a jam session. Most intriguing are the statements of
Ricky Ford who alternates between latter-day
Sonny Rollins (he has really captured
Rollins's sound of the 1990s) and
Dexter Gordon; there is also plenty of solo space for the late
Larry Gales on one of his final recordings. But in general no real surprises occur on this pleasing but uneventful session. ~ Scott Yanow