By DUCK BAKER
Coda Magazine Critic

Charles Davis began lending his forceful baritone sound to outstanding hard
bop dates in the late 50's and has been at it ever since. Those who have
followed Davis know that he has focused a fair amount on tenor in recent
years. On "Blue Gardenia" Davis plays four tracks on tenor and four on the
bari, and it's a toss-up which suits him better as he has something
particular to say on every tune in this excellent program, which runs from
unusual standards to bossas to a couple of very hip blues lines.

Before considering Davis's own playing, it should be said at the outset that
much of the credit for the success of this project must be shared with his
rhythm section, which consists of the current Cedar Walton trio, with Peter
Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. While these two names may
not seem familiar to readers who were digging Davis back when, both men have
accumulated long lists of credits over the last decade or so, and their work
here makes it easy to see why. Washington has big ears and a real bass sound
and Farnsworth's light stick work and sizzling cymbals invite comparison to
Roy Haynes. The pianist is in great form, soloing brilliantly and displaying
his usual flair for the right kind of vamp, as when he transforms Jobim's
"Sabia" with an almost down-home groove.

Davis was always a fine player, but he shows a depth and consistency as
principal soloist that may surprise even long-standing fans. He doesn't
focus on driving things, being content to almost float rhythmically over the
ever-cooking section and concentrating on ideas that are often quite
unobvious in terms of phrasing and harmony. Davis certainly learned from
Coltrane, but the things he learned aren't the things younger players
usually throw out, like running around on modal changes or bearing down on
every note as if it may be the last. And maybe that's the key to what's
winning about the horn playing here - it always reflects the concerns of a
still-questing but thoroughly mature musical intelligence.

A fine outing by all concerned.

Copyright 2003 Coda Magazine.