Can we all agree ahead of time to share the love when Marcus Miller comes to town Friday?
I’m just a little concerned that one of his bandmates may steal all the attention from Miller, a prolific bassist and composer whose work helped defined the fusion era and beyond.
That bandmate would be trumpeter Christian Scott, who’s quickly developing a reputation as one of the most gifted and electrifying jazz talents among the 20-something set. The 27-year-old New Orleans native learned from artists such as Clark Terry and Donald Harrison (his uncle) and has held his own playing with artists ranging from jazz purist Wynton Marsalis to the enigmatic Prince.
Scott’s latest album, “Yesterday You Said Tomorrow,” gently nudges the sound of “Bitches Brew” era Miles Davis into the age of hip-hop and Radiohead, creating a sound remarkable both for its expressive range and pure physical vitality.
Which means he should be right at home with Miller, an equally broad-minded talent who has worked with artists ranging from McCoy Tyner to Paul Simon and helped paved the way for Miles’ 1980s comeback with his crucial work on the landmark album “Tutu.”
Those “Tutu” tunes (say that three times fast) will form much of repertoire for Friday’s SFJAZZ show, which starts at 8 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre. Tickets are $35 to $75.