RCA
2002
The Infinite
About This Album
Trumpeter Dave Douglas is in a Miles Davis mood on The Infinite, the first album by his New Quintet. And Douglas seems to have settled on a particularly appropriate phase of Davis' recorded legacy for inspiration: the era marked by a departure from post-bop and entrance into fusion, circa 1968 and 1969. In particular, The Infinite recalls 1968's Miles in the Sky and Filles de Kilimanjaro, which introduced electric keyboards into the sound of Davis' second classic quintet. These two Davis LPs are apt touchstones for Douglas because they, like much of his own recorded output, represent the exciting potential of something new under the jazz sun, a break from the past, the crossing of boundaries, and the discovery of new hybrid forms. Two of the most memorable Davis-influenced pieces, the title track and "Deluge," feature assertive, angular phrasing from Douglas and tenor saxophonist Chris Potter in the thematic passages, which contrast effectively with ethereal comping from Uri Caine on Fender Rhodes and bassist James Genus' insistent pulse. As usual, Douglas gets tremendous performances from his bandmates, who navigate his charts with grace, feeling, and the sensitivity to not overwhelm the material.
Track List (try tracks 2,6 and 9)

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