Star People, released in 1983, is nearly forgotten in America. It’s actually out of print here, only available as an import. And that’s a shame, because it’s an interesting experiment with some really strong moments. Recorded at five sessions between August 1982 and February 1983, it’s mostly played by Davis’ road band at the time — saxophonist Bill Evans, guitarist Mike Stern, bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, and percussionist Mino Cinelu — with second guitarist John Scofield showing up on two tracks, one of which also features substitute bassist Tom Barney. All the tracks are credited to Davis, save one that’s a Scofield co-write, and they’re all more blues-based than anything he’d done in decades. Indeed, the title track is basically a 20-minute blues jam.

Davis’ playing is occasionally impressive on Star People. When he first re-emerged (as heard on the live We Want Miles, recorded in 1981), he was tentative, using the mute more as a shield than as a dramatic device the way he’d done in the 1950s. He stalked around the stage, looking straight down with the horn pointed at his feet, forcing out short, piercing bursts of notes and letting the band’s slow, slinky funk grooves do most of the work. Sidemen like Evans and Stern got a lot of spotlight time, with the guitarist working in a zone closer to Eddie Van Halen than John McLaughlin. By the time this record was made, though, he’d gotten some of his power back, and was ready to take the spotlight again, to truly lead the band instead of relying on their strength. Indeed, Bill Evans barely gets any solo time on this album at all — for much of it, Davis is the sole horn, and he’s playing some of the deepest blues of his career. Is it a great album? No. But it’s better than you might expect.