Jason Miles has paid homage, both directly and indirectly, to his illustrious ex-gaffer Miles Davis throughout his career. Miles’ 1980s electric classics Tutu, Amandla and the soundtrack for Siesta, on which he programmed and played keys and synth, has provided a major inspiration for his Kind of New Project, of which this is the third in a series of recordings that began back in 2015. Black Magic has the keyboardist refining a well-worn heavy backbeat funk-rock fusion formula clearly without the freshness and imagination of its 1980s prototype but with a classy exuberance nevertheless. A Miles Davis favourite from that period, ‘Jean Pierre’, owes much to the ace Belgium-based electric bassist Reggie Washington’s deliciously fluid, popping lines while Jay Rodriguez’ soprano solo works up to a scintillating climax on the ‘Ferrari’, a writing collaboration with Michael Brecker. That’s a standout among the live tracks recorded at the east Village NuBlu club and they have the edge on the somewhat dryer studio cuts that feature earlier on the album. Another highlight is the track rounding off the recording: the keyboardist’s and Tom Harrell’s ‘Street Vibe’ with trumpeter Philip Dizack blowing through the gears on a sizzling Hammond B3 jam-band workout.