HomeHigh Note ***

The influence of Miles Davis on modern music may be incalculable, but his own instrumental style was so distinctive that most trumpeters have steered clear of direct imitation. Wallace Roney, whom Davis anointed as his protege in the later years of his life, goes the other way, consciously channelling Davis's sparse chromaticism. In fact, his immersion in Davis's music is so complete he is often accused of being little more than a copyist, but there is more to Roney than that. Rather, he is mining a still-productive seam of swinging, acoustic jazz, and those who wish that Davis had never plugged in will find much to admire here. To complete the sense of déjà entendu, saxophonist Antoine Roney (yes, relation) bears an uncanny resemblance to the young Wayne Shorter, and the recording opens with a Shorter composition, Utopia. It's an aptly-named record. Davis's 60s quintet was home base for post-bop jazz, and Roney's band have taken vacant possession. wallaceroney.com