I’ve listened to that Jesse Davis clip about ten times. Fantastic clip and I love great alto playing! Acman3 is right; “depends on what one is looking for in a solo”. Jesse Davis is a fantastic player, but to be compared to a giant like Phil Woods is a pretty tall order. Schubert makes a great observation. While I wouldn’t say that Davis is more melodic than the others, he does have a certain clarity in his sense of melody. He likes to take a short melodic snippet, transpose and repeat it and turn it upside down.
Acman3 brings up another interesting point re the solo order. What I find fascinating about that solo order is that listening to those four players is like following the development of jazz from the post-Bird period to the present. Woods’ playing screams Bird while bringing his own somewhat more modern harmonic language and tone. His playing projects an amazing sense of confidence and maturity. McPherson takes it a step further into the future in overall approach. Bartz’ playing shows why Miles chose him for one of his electric bands. Davis takes things the farthest outside the harmonies of the tune and one can hear some obvious ”Coltranisms” in his solo. All great soloists. From the standpoint of technical command Woods couldn’t be touched. IMO.
Thanks again for a fantastic clip, Schubert.
https://youtu.be/448rUZ7BnjA