The sheer magnitude of Miles Davis’s legacy means there will continually be new tributes to the trumpeter, whose career helped define several movements in jazz. Rarely, however, do people think of Davis’ music as a vehicle for vocalists. Giacomo Gates goes a long way toward changing that perception with a program that focuses on material Davis wrote or played between the mid-‘50s and the mid-‘60s. Influenced by such icons as Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy, Gates sings and scats with a voice that won’t stop traffic, leaning more on phrasing and texture. Nonetheless, he sounds great as he scats on “Long Come Tutu” and “Milestones” or navigates the tricky melody of “Four.” He’s backed here by a great band that includes standout soloing from trumpeter Freddie Hendrix (often on mute) and guitarist Dave Stryker, with pianist John Di Martino, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Vincent Ector providing solid support. He's a singer trying to do something a little different; his Gil Scott-Heron tribute The Revolution Will Be Jazz is also recommended. Gates offers a fine alternative to typical vocal-jazz fare.