Plastic Sax

Terence Blanchard told an audience of 450 at Atkins Auditorium on Sunday, October 2, that the concert was dedicated to Wayne Shorter. Echoes of Shorter’s work with the pioneering jazz fusion band Weather Report were apparent, but the music performed by Blanchard, E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet more clearly evoked a different jazz icon.

In a fascinating enactment of speculative history, the nine musicians refined and enhanced the style associated with 1980s-era Miles Davis. Where the late star was often dull and blurry during the Reagan era, the sounds overseen by Blanchard were sharp and focused. A rewarding reassessment, the concert was an exercise in what might have been.

Blanchard revived Davis’ distinctive attack by filtering his trumpet through effects. Guitarist Charles Altura assumed the role of Davis’ brash sideman Mike Stern. Modern day keyboard star Taylor Eigsti acted as Robert Irving III, ebullient bassist David Ginyard, Jr. replaced Marcus Miller and the groove-oriented drummer Oscar Seaton Jr. stood in for Al Foster.

As on Absence, the musicians’ 2021 album for Blue Note Records, the presence of the longstanding string quartet acted as a wild card. Much as Davis once turned to Gil Evans for string enhancements, Blanchard deployed Turtle Island director David Balakrishnan. Not only were Turtle Island’s embellishments ravishing, a turn in the spotlight earned the quartet a standing ovation.

Every detail was discernible in the pristine sound field during the opening concert of the Harriman-Jewell Series’ 2022-23 season. (I purchased the least expensive ticket for $33.50 for a spot in a back corner.) A notorious contrarian, Davis may not have appreciated the performance. Be that as it may, the realization of his vision was magnificent.