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The Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s Tribute to Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" is a remarkable musical experience that celebrates one of jazz’s most iconic albums, Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. Released in 1959, Kind of Blue is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. Its modal jazz approach revolutionized the genre, and the Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s tribute does an exceptional job of honoring this groundbreaking work while also showcasing the unique voice of the ensemble.
Ron Di Lauro, a highly skilled and seasoned jazz trumpeter, is known for his ability to blend intricate technical mastery with an emotive, soulful performance style. Leading the sextet, he channels the essence of Davis, whose playing was characterized by its lyrical beauty and understated yet profound impact. The Tribute to Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" performance is more than just a simple replication of the album; it’s a reimagining that brings new life to the familiar tunes while maintaining the spirit of innovation that Davis and his ensemble first presented.
The sextet’s lineup, consisting of trumpet, alto and tenor saxophones, piano, bass and drums, plays an essential role in this tribute. Each instrument adds its own distinctive voice to the mix, creating a rich, multi-layered soundscape. The arrangement of the tunes allows for moments of improvisation and interplay that were so central to the original recordings. These spontaneous moments capture the free-flowing energy of jazz, giving the audience a sense of the same creativity that Davis and his bandmates (including Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb) displayed during the recording of Kind of Blue.
The setlist for the tribute includes several of the standout tracks from Kind of Blue, such as "So What," "Freddie Freeloader," "Blue in Green," and "All Blues." These tracks are the very essence of modal jazz, with their open, spacious structures that emphasize melody and mood over the more complex harmonic progressions found in bebop. The sextet’s approach to these pieces, while respecting the original compositions, brings out fresh interpretations, often through nuanced solos and dynamic group interactions. This allows listeners to experience the music anew, offering both reverence to Davis’s masterpiece and an understanding of the timelessness of jazz.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s tribute is its ability to evoke the spirit of the 1959 recording while still remaining firmly rooted in the present. Di Lauro and his group acknowledge that Kind of Blue was not just a moment in time, but a monumental shift in the world of jazz. Through their dedication to the material and their own creativity, the sextet not only celebrates this pivotal album but also reminds the audience of its relevance in today’s jazz scene.