Ron Carter and Herbie Hancock join hands for a memorable tribute to trumpet great Miles Davis.

TWO JAZZ GIANTS REUNITE to close this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27, in “For Miles,” honoring the 100th birthday of their mentor, the unforgettable Miles Davis.

It’s a rare duet between pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Ron Carter, both graduates of Davis’ Second Great Quintet, also featuring saxophonist Wayne Shorter and drummer Tony Williams. The group of young musician – everyone but Shorter were still in their 20s when Miles recruited them – replaced Davis’ earlier quintet famed for Kind of Blue, one of the bestselling jazz albums of all time.

The young men were undaunted.

“We understood that we were filling in some big footprints, but no one was focused on outplaying the music of the previous group,” recalls Carter, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for appearing on more albums than any jazz bassist (or any bassist) in history.

“We had a bandleader who trusted our skills so we were ready to get going,” he says.

Carter dismisses reports of Davis’ irascible reputation. “I never had that kind of contact with him,” he says. “He had a knack of putting together combinations of musicians, cared about the band’s health, made sure we got paid and trusted our judgment. It must have worked out because he didn’t fire anybody.”

Reminded of an online clip of Davis glaring at Hancock over a missed note at a European concert, Carter demurs: “I know the story, but if I’m playing, I’m trying to hold up my end of the bargain and certainly don’t have time to look at who Miles is chastising.”

Did he and Davis ever have that kind of close encounter?

“Never,” he says with a laugh. “No. Not in six years.”

The second quintet’s work was marked by masterpieces like E.S.P. and Nefertiti, reflecting Davis’ lifelong interest in exploring new frontiers. When that included his desire for a shift to an electric bass, Carter decided it wasn’t his jam – he was replaced by Joe Zawinul – leaving the band without acrimony.

“I could do what the job required, but the people coming in on the electric bass were so far ahead of me that it was like walking into a house with the wrong furniture,” he recalled. “Upright was the sound for me.”

That said, the Maestro – as the venerable musician, now 89 years young, is known – is no purist.

He’s played with everyone from Roberta Flack to Aretha Franklin to hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. And his website, roncarter.com, is a cornucopia of up-to-date information about his career, including a recent jazz-gospel hybrid album, Sweet, Sweet Music; a film (including backstage footage) of his collaboration with Diana Krall earlier this year; podcasts with Norah Jones and Bill Frisell; and a recent online gig with East Coast piano whiz Emmet Cohen.

The homecoming with Hancock in Monterey is a must-see both for newcomers who may not be familiar with Davis and fans who’ve revered his bountiful body of work for years.

A Hollywood Bowl gig in August was a more extravagant, orchestral event, emceed by Hancock and featuring Terence Blanchard and Christian McBride among many others, including Kenny Garrett and Marcus Miller.

Carter, who played on Hancock’s first breakout album, Maiden Voyage, joined the band on Davis’ classic, “So What,” and the two friends performed another Miles’ favorite tune, “My Funny Valentine,” alone. It’s the first track on a concert album recorded at Lincoln Center in 1964 to raise money for voting rights in the South. And Dear Miles, his 2006 tribute record, is top drawer.

Both musicians wanted to keep their Monterey Jazz Festival outing simpler, reflecting their emotional connection to the music, says Carter.

He’s justly proud of helping the instrument he loves get the respect it deserves.

“The bassists are no longer standing by the palm tree, they’re closer to the edge of the stage,” Carter says.

RON CARTER’S FOURSIGHT QUARTET, with pianist Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene on tenor sax and drummer Payton Crossley, plays at 9pm Friday, Sept. 25 on the West End Stage. Carter and Hancock perform at 7:45pm Sunday, Sept. 27 on the Jimmy Lyons Stage.