The title of The Bones of Art tells you what this fine album is all about: veteran trombonist and conch shell player Steve Turre celebrates the trombone and its jazz legacy while also paying tribute to drummer and bandleader Art Blakey. Turre, Frank Lacy, Robin Eubanks, and Steve Davis—who all played ‘bone in Blakey’s Jazz Messengers—lend their instrumental and writing skills to this 2013 release. Each track features three trombonists playing with a rhythm section; there’s not another horn in earshot. Things start in jaunty fashion with “Slide’s Ride,” Turre’s nod to Slide Hampton. Turre, Davis, and Lacy take turns holding forth; pianist Xavier Davis links those statements with engaging interludes. Eubanks’ “Shorter Bu,” a tribute to Wayne Shorter (who played in and composed for The Jazz Messengers) and Blakey, features excellent brass writing, a compelling statement on muted trombone from Turre, and some nice interplay as the cut fades out. “Daylight,” penned by Steve Davis, wraps the album on a high note. The Latin-flavored track ripples with energy, thanks in part to Pedro Martinez’s percussion, and Turre’s conch shell solo is wonderful.