Trombonist STEVE DAVIS Pays Tribute
to the Immortal J.J. Johnson on Say When -
Available June 9 on Smoke Sessions Records
Release Performances June 5 - 7 at Smoke Jazz Club
One of the most meaningful moments in the remarkable trombonist Steve Davis' life occurred when he first met his idol, J.J. Johnson.
It was the morning after the immortal trombonist heard Davis play for
the first time. "I walked in the theater and I heard this tremendous,
warm sound and clean, clear articulation and sophisticated harmonic
ideas. Yeah, Stevie, you're right on track, baby. Keep it up. You sound
beautiful, baby." In recalling it, Davis says, "It was like getting my
passport stamped. It's just meant the world to me."
Davis,
now beloved and highly influential in his own right, has always viewed
J.J. not just as the inspiration for every modern jazz trombonist, but
as the model upon which his personal artistic aspirations are built.
"J.J.
Johnson is the Charlie Parker of the trombone," says Davis. "He's our
Bird. He changed the game for the instrument. He's been a colossal
influence on my playing, on my writing, and on my overall approach to
the music." Now, Davis is ready to offer a compelling tribute to the NEA
Jazz Master with his new release on Smoke Sessions Records, Say When.
To
pay proper tribute to a legend, an artist - even one as extraordinary as
Davis - must do more than pay homage, but must extend that storied
legacy, demonstrating its timelessness by offering a musical vision that
is immediate and of the present. Davis and his brilliant team of
collaborators--trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, and the sterling rhythm section of Harold Mabern, Nat Reeves and Joe Farnsworth--deliver
that substance powerfully and with clear affinity and devotion. With
many years of performing together in various contexts and combinations,
these six outstanding musicians possess a synergy that is further
unified by the radiant spirit of J.J. reflected in the repertoire, all
of which is associated with J.J.'s legacy.
Davis
is long renowned for his rich sound of sumptuous lyricism, intonation
and an impeccable sense of swing - all of which holds true for Henderson
and Alexander. Driven and buoyed by the stunning interplay of the
rhythm section, powered by Mabern's riveting piano, centered by Reeves'
resonance and rolling on Farnsworth's sparkling inventiveness, the
sextet shines on six Johnson originals and five more pieces connected
with J.J. - including one unexpected surprise.
Among
the originals is a quartet rendition of J.J.'s iconic and best-known
piece, the exquisite "Lament," ideally suited to Steve's captivating
warmth and emotive tenderness. With plenty of textured layers,
exhilarating call-and-response and subtly placed riffing, the ensemble
conveys big band energy without losing the intimacy of the smaller
group. This is particularly effective on two items that J.J. did with a
big band, the gently swinging "Shortcake" and the sizzling up-tempo
title cut, "Say When." "Pinnacles" opens the album in a bouncy fashion,
and JJ.'s dedication to his granddaughter, "Kenya" is a soulful
syncopated groover. The punchy "Shutterbug" takes syncopation into a
"Milestones" feel with its staccato head and bluesy drive, and while
Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" is certainly not a J.J.
original, but his marvelous arrangement certainly makes it his own,
delivered here with that big small band sound.
Mabern's
dedication, "Mr. Johnson" was written when he played with J.J. and
contains a modal Blakey's Messengers fire of concentrated intensity. For
Davis' 16th birthday, his father gave him Concepts in Blue,
which featured J.J.'s take on John Coltrane's "Village Blues," served up
here on tantalizingly suspended rhythms. An additional ballad
associated with J.J., "There Will Never Be Another You" is another
quartet feature for Davis' poignant expressiveness; and that
aforementioned surprise is a rousing version of "When the Saints Go
Marching In." An unabashedly modern, ostinato-driven and tension-filled
smoker, this was inspired by a version of this that Davis heard J.J.
perform live at the Blue Note, and closes the album with Davis in
bucket-muted fervor.
Testimonials
to Steve's luminous talent are filled with superlatives from virtually
everyone with whom he's played. Freddie Hubbard ("one of the greatest
trombone players in the world"), James Moody ("his solos never cease to
amaze me') and Chick Corea ("some of the melodic improvisations ever
heard in jazz"), are just three of a veritable who's who of jazz giants -
Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath,
Ron Carter, Hank Jones and so many others - who shared those opinions.
With well over a dozen albums under his own leadership, Davis' first
album for Smoke Sessions Records fulfills a long time dream and is another giant step forward for this exceptional artist.
"I've
wanted to do this tribute to J.J. Johnson for 20 years but I never felt
quite ready," explains Davis. "Something kept telling me, 'Just wait.
Just wait.' Then, a year and a half ago, we did the J.J. weekend at
Smoke with this sextet and I finally realized it was time. J.J.'s music
needs to be played. People need to hear this music. It's just that
good."
The great man would be proud.
"Say When" was recorded live in New York at Sear Sound's Studio C
on a Sear-Avalon custom console at 96KHz/24bit and mixed to ½" analog tape
using a Studer mastering deck. Available in audiophile HD format.
Steve Davis · Say When
Smoke Sessions Records · Release Date: June 9, 2015
Release Performances: June 5 - 7 @ Smoke Jazz Club
Upcoming Releases on Smoke Sessions Records:
July 14: Heads of State feat. Gary Bartz, Larry Willis, Buster Williams, and Al Foster
For more information on Steve Davis, please visit SteveDavis.info
For more information on Smoke Sessions Records,
please visit SmokeSessionsRecords.com
For media information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Maureen McFadden · maureen@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
Serving the Finest in Jazz Since 1988
Information and press materials (including album covers, promotional photos
and bios) on all DL Media artists can be found at our website: dlmediamusic.com
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Saturday, April 4, 2015
USA: Trombonist STEVE DAVIS Pays Tribute to the Immortal J.J. Johnson on "Say When" - Available June 9 on Smoke Sessions Records
