Bluesthetic Steve Davis

• 1 Encouragement 04:39
• 2 Silver at Sundown 06:35
• 3 Maybe So 06:25
• 4 Bedford Strolle 06:47
• 5 Faraway Dream 05:57
• 6 They Wore 44 08:19
• 7 Off the Cuff 07:30
• 8 Indigo to Azure 05:22
• 9 Bluesthetic 05:57
• 10 A Star for Chick 06:10
• Total Runtime 01:03:41

Info for Bluesthetic

Master trombonist Steve Davis assembled a remarkable sextet with a three-decade shared history for his latest album, BLUESTHETIC--guitarist Peter Bernstein, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Willie Jones III.

On each of his three previous releases for Smoke Sessions, trombonist Steve Davis assembled a stellar sextet featuring some of modern jazz’s most vaunted players. With BLUESTHETIC, Davis has done it again, but this time with a twist – instead of enlisting fellow horn players, he’s expanded the ensemble’s harmonic possibilities with guitarist Peter Bernstein and vibraphonist Steve Nelson. In the process he’s reunited the frontline from his 1998 album VIBE UP! for the first time in more than twenty years.

A frontline that stellar needs an equally gifted rhythm section, and Davis has surpassed himself in putting together a powerhouse one: pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Willie Jones III. Beyond simply gathering six of the most acclaimed jazz voices of their generation, however, the band represents a web of musical relationships stretching back decades – which only makes already vibrant music that much more compelling.

“Recording this album was kind of like a family reunion,” Davis says. “It was an absolute joy to have this whole group together.”

The hybrid title of BLUESTHETIC captures something essential about Davis’ music, a combination of the appreciation of artful beauty suggested by “aesthetic” combined with the foundational influence of the blues. “With my music, the blues is always going to find its way in there,” Davis explains. “I'm never going to stray too far from having some element of that language. I can't help it; it’s what I love. And it definitely represents how this particular band approaches jazz music.”

Steve Davis, trombone
Peter Bernstein, guitar
Steve Nelson, vibraphone
Geoffrey Keezer, piano
Christian McBride, bass
Willie Jones III, drums

Steve Davis
is widely regarded one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. Davis first gained widespread recognition with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (‘90) composing the title track of Blakey’s last album, One For All (A&M). In the years since, Steve has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Roy Hargrove, Willie Jones III, Joe Farnsworth, Eric Alexander & One For All. Davis has also been a steady member of big bands led by Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, Christian McBride and John Lee & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars.

Steve has appeared on The Jimmy Fallon Show with Stevie Wonder and at The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis plays on over 200 recordings, including 20 as a leader. His recent releases on Smoke Sessions include “Meets Hank Jones Vol.1 & 2”, featuring Steve in a trio setting recorded in 2008 with renowned bassist Peter Washington & legendary pianist Hank Jones and “We See”, which features Davis in a live setting along with a stellar lineup including Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet and Lewis Nash. Additionally, Davis and pianist David Hazeltine are featured on the cooperatively-led CD “Primary Influences” (Cellar Live).These albums have all received extensive critical acclaim.

Steve’s original composition, “Optimism” appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release Bringin’ It (2018). Davis also received a Grammy for playing on Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band release “Antidote” (2019). Davis collaborates with his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis on her debut “Where Is Love” (WJ3 Feb ’24) which also features his son, guitarist Tony Davis.

A long-time educator, Steve has guided generations of emerging musicians including a 31-year tenure at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute, University of Hartford, CT where he was honored as ’23 Alumni Of The Year.

Currently, Davis is Full Professor of Trombone at the Berklee College of Music and is Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Purchase College, SUNY.

This album contains no booklet.