While the musicians involved have changed over the years, the vision of the SF Jazz Collective has remained consistent; present material focusing on a specific jazz icon, and mix it with a series of original organic pieces in a concert format. This time around, the concerts from the SFJAZZ Center during October, 2016 celebrate clever arrangements of Miles Davis. The band, lead by Miguel Zenon/as and including the strong teamwork of David Sanchez/ts, Sean Jones/tp, Robin Eubanks/tb, Warren Wolf/vib, Edward Simon/p, Matt Penman/b and Obed Calvaire/dr share in arranging and composing material that is so strong, it’s like the saying about the Denver weather, “If you don’t like it, stick around, as it’s likely to change.”
Disc One includes a rapid fire “Nardis” with Zenon burning over a hat dance rhythm, while Sanchez’s tenor is soft on a luminous “Milestones.” There’s a brassy punch during an earthy “Tutu” and Jones trumpet penetrates over the keys on the ominous “Bitches Brew.” Simon is splashy during “All Blues” and the horns are loose on a free flowing “Teo” while two tunes from Kind of Blue, “So What” and “All Blues” include Gil Evans styled horns as drapery.
The second disc has a tune composed by everyone one stage, with Wolf’s hip marimba during a folksy “111” some rich reeds floating unaccompanied during “Your Turn” as well as some tribal percussion as the horns chant on “Feel the Groove.” A piece dedicated to the recently departed Bobby Hutcherson fits in well while some bluesy soul provided by Jones and Wolf seal the deal on “In the Heat of the Night.” The music mixes clever arranging as well as memorable solos, such as Sanchez’s melancholic flight on “Canto.” A tribute worth attending.