Trumpeter Dave Douglas cites the great Miles Davis as a major influence, not just as a player, but also in terms of musical philosophy. The jazz legend had an extremely expansive and inclusive take on music, so it’s no surprise that Douglas, like his idol, has carved out a career as a musical chameleon. Often referred to as an avant-gardist because of his work with John Zorn’s Masada and other groups, Douglas’s music cannot be confined to such narrow labels.

“When you do something different, it’s seen as something people don’t get. I feel like I am looking for unexpected beauty. If that’s avant-garde, so be it,” Douglas recently told DCist.

His most recent project, a group called Brass Ecstasy, has nothing to do with the avant-garde. A band that explores everything from traditional New Orleans to classic soul and even country, the group appeals to jazz sophisticates and neophytes alike on its first release, Spirit Moves. The ensemble’s infectious sound will be on full display tonight at Blues Alley.

The group augments Douglas’s versatile trumpet sound with Vincent Chancey on french horn, trombonist Luis Bonilla, and of particular note is tubist Marcus Rojas, whose funky lines perfectly complement the deep pocket of drummer Nasheet Waits. The material leaves plenty of space for these talented players to flex their musical chops.