Trombonist Steve Davis was still in his late teens when he first shared the stage with trumpet master Eddie Henderson. While studying with Jackie McLean at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music he frequented the 880 Club, which regularly hosted big-name players from New York on Thursday nights.

At the urging of house pianist Don DePalma, Davis sat in with Dr. Henderson, who put the young trombonist through his paces by calling “There Is No Greater Love,” then invited him to remain while he led the band through Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” and “Dolphin Dance.”

At the end of the set, Henderson encouraged Davis, telling him, “Man, you’re going to be a star one day.”

That prediction has long since been fulfilled. Davis is revered as one of the leading trombone voices in modern jazz, featured on more than 100 recordings with such legends as Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and Hank Jones.

He served a brief tenure in the formidable ranks of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and later co-founded the all-star sextet One For All. JazzTimes called him, “an updated amalgam of J.J. Johnson and Slide Hampton,” hailing his “inventive ear for harmony and passion for melody,” while no less an icon than Freddie Hubbard lauded him as “one of the greatest trombone players in the world.”

So to call the ensemble that Davis has assembled for his latest Smoke Sessions release, We See, an all-star sextet is definitely no exaggeration. The album features Eddie Henderson on trumpet – that first encounter in Hartford has blossomed into a nearly four-decade collaboration and friendship – along with tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Essiet Essiet, drummer Lewis Nash.

Recorded live at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club and due out on October 25th, 2024, We See is the latest release in a series of live recordings celebrating the 25th anniversary of the club and the tenth anniversary of its record label.

1. Milestones
2. To Wisdom, the Prize
3. We See
4. Up Jumped Spring
5. Star Eyes
6. Ask Me Now (bonus track)
7. All Blues (bonus track)

This wondrously enigmatic new recording opens on the joyfully peppy Milestones and the driven bluesy charms of To Wisdom, the Prize and then we are gifted the drum-led, swinging title track We See, the sumptuous melodies and flowing rhythms of Up Jumped Spring, the all-embracing Star Eyes, the album closing out on two bonus tracks in the form of the languishing beauty within Ask Me Now and the late night, smokey jazz club soul found driving the hypnotic All Blues.

“We’ve seen a lot collectively and individually,” Davis says. “We’re continuing to see and search right now. It’s so gratifying to be in the midst of all that musicality and creativity.”

Official Website

Official Purchase Link