Cuong Vu is a trumpeter whose established in NYC’s eclectic "downtown"/Knitting Factory/Tonic/friends of John Zorn scene, and is a member of Chris Speed’s fine freebop band Deviantics. Vu’s latest, Come Play With Me, is in my estimation a brilliantly realized endeavor to assimilate the monumental influence of Miles Davis’ electric stuff (i.e., Live-Evil, Get Up With It, In A Silent Way) and build something distinctive upon it. The trumpet/bass/drums instrumentation may seem bare-bones but they get a full sound, sometimes with the use of electronic treatment/processing, and they do it without over-compensating by playing too much or too loud, bless their hearts. Like much of Miles’ electric stuff, conventional melody is downplayed in favor of spacey, wraithlike modes and instrumental interplay, but unlike some of that (listen to M.D.’s At Fillmore album lately? thought not), Vu’s trio sidesteps the meandering, noodle-y pitfalls. Whether or not there’s a "groove," there’s always the feeling the compositions are going somewhere, though this is not theme/solo/solo/theme-style jazz, to be sure. One particularly high point: "Safekeepings" features sublime, soulfully pensive trumpet amid a quiet storm (sorry, couldn’t resist) that feels dub-like although there’s not a reggae beat. Vu is not overcome by Miles’ trumpet style - he has that haunting middle-register sound, but he’s also judiciously "vocal" in the manner of free masters Wadada Leo Smith and the late, great Lester Bowie, along with a soupçon of that crackling, rippling Lee Morgan sound. Stomu Takeishi brings a guitar-like approach to his dexterous electric bass-ing and drummer John Hollenbeck is appropriately steady and turbulent, both equal participants in this outstanding group music. Very nice indeed.