“PERSPECTIVES II”
BILLIE DAVIES trio
live recorded for sound and video at: Art Klub, New Orleans LA live
recording date: June 1, 2018, 8 - 10 pm
recording, mixing, mastering: Mike Davies
tracks
release date: September 27
BILLIE DAVIES trio
Billie Davies
- drums, Evan Oberla - piano/keys/trombone, Oliver Watkinson - bass
featuring: Ari Kohn
- woodwinds, Iris P - vocals, Allie Porter - vocals
live recorded for sound and video at: Art Klub, New Orleans LA live
recording date: June 1, 2018, 8 - 10 pm
recording, mixing, mastering: Mike Davies
video: Marion Hill
tracks
Nature - 11:36 , Life
- 06:13 , Happiness - 07:15 , Love
- 07:15
Freedom - 16:47 , Art - 13:37 ,
Rhythm - 14:45
release date: September 27
“PERSPECTIVES II”
"All of my music is improvisational... a conversation between
musicians and musical instruments. A joint emotional expression inspired by a certain
common feeling, thought or perspective in an instinctual, unpredictable, freely expressed improvisation exploring authentic feelings and inspirations that is being
communicated to an audience, a listener, a community." - Billie Davies
“PERSPECTIVES II”, is an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive
improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and 7 chakra musical
keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys / trombone, baritone
sax / flute, bass, drums and vocals / spoken word by 2 female vocalists.
Abstract Expressionist Improvisations Neither confused by the light
An ever evolving improvisation, a message to raise the awareness of life
and living, love and loving from a deeply natural,
instinctive perspective.
A symphony to mother nature, to the tree of life and people.
One big conversation where each artist responds to another artist’s
call, where each and
every action taken is in response to another, all being influenced by each other, all being one and one with mother nature.
A spontaneous expression through
sound, through words and through movement, all expressing perspectives of Nature, Life, Happiness, Love, Freedom, Art and Rhythm.
About the performers
"All of my music is improvisational... a conversation between
musicians and musical instruments. A joint emotional expression inspired by a certain
common feeling, thought or perspective in an instinctual, unpredictable, freely expressed improvisation exploring authentic feelings and inspirations that is being
communicated to an audience, a listener, a community." - Billie Davies
“PERSPECTIVES II”, is an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive
improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and 7 chakra musical
keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys / trombone, baritone
sax / flute, bass, drums and vocals / spoken word by 2 female vocalists.
Perspectives that affect all human beings,
regardless of race,
nationality, culture, gender, creed,
religion, politics, social
status and personhood.
Abstract Expressionist Improvisations Neither confused by the light
Nor blinded
by dogma, color or political correctness
An ever evolving improvisation, a message to raise the awareness of life
and living, love and loving from a deeply natural,
instinctive perspective.
A symphony to mother nature, to the tree of life and people.
One big conversation where each artist responds to another artist’s
call, where each and
every action taken is in response to another, all being influenced by each other, all being one and one with mother nature.
A spontaneous expression through
sound, through words and through movement, all expressing perspectives of Nature, Life, Happiness, Love, Freedom, Art and Rhythm.
About the performers
Billie Davies
- Drums.
“Billie Davies is a very accomplished free-jazz
drummer. Born in Belgium, she now lives in New Orleans, having
spent much of her life living peripatetically. Previous reviewers have made much of the self-taught nature
of her drumming. I defy any listener
to distinguish her playing
from someone ‘schooled’ in jazz drumming. There is a vitality and fluidity in the way that she plays the drum kit...
her stories explain her drumming... ” - Chris
Baber, Jazz Views (Jun 30, 2016)
“Billie Davies is a very accomplished free-jazz
drummer. Born in Belgium, she now lives in New Orleans, having
spent much of her life living peripatetically. Previous reviewers have made much of the self-taught nature
of her drumming. I defy any listener
to distinguish her playing
from someone ‘schooled’ in jazz drumming. There is a vitality and fluidity in the way that she plays the drum kit...
her stories explain her drumming... ” - Chris
Baber, Jazz Views (Jun 30, 2016)
Her 2012 release of “all about
Love” solidified her position as a professional jazz musician. This recording of standards and original
music, charted #1 in CMJ Jazz College
Radio Charts for ‘top jazz add’ in new albums
and went on to stay in the top 20 for 4 weeks.
Also well received in Canada,
the album ended up in the Top 10 on three different !Earshot Jazz charts.
In October, 2013 Billie released
“12 VOLT”. CJ Bond, JAZZ MUSIC, wrote,
“12 VOLT” adds the crucial
tyne of 'composer/arranger' to
her sterling artistic fork, augmenting fearless innovation. Jan Hocek of His Voice in Prague
wrote:”Without hesitation - HIGH VOLTAGE avant-garde JAZZ - one of the most remarkable trio albums of the year!"
In 2013 Billie Davies
received the "Jazz Artist of the Year" Award by the 23rd Annual
Los Angeles Music Awards.
In March of 2014 she moved to New Orleans
where she recorded
"Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" in 2015.
She received more national and international attention
due to a player feature
in Downbeat Magazine
May 2016 edition,
"BILLIE DAVIES '20 Years Stronger'".
"On Hollywood Boulevard", released in 12/10/2016 became a January
2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com. December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans
by OffBeat Magazine.
Evan Oberla
- Piano/Keys/Synth & Trombone.
"Music never stops,
it only begins.
All the music that ever was exists
now. It is the musician's job to tune into the universe and become
a vessel for the music of the moment." Evan Oberla
"Music never stops,
it only begins.
All the music that ever was exists
now. It is the musician's job to tune into the universe and become
a vessel for the music of the moment." Evan Oberla
Evan was born and raised
in Columbus, Ohio, playing piano and guitar
at an early age. In 5th grade
he picked up the trombone
for the school band. In high school his musicality led him to participate in multiple jazz ensembles, including
the acclaimed Columbus
Youth Jazz Orchestra. Evan graduated in June 2009 from Ohio State University with a degree
in Jazz Studies performance. A diverse and active musician based out of New Orleans, LA, he can be found with acts such as EO & The Tasty Sapiens, Brass Lightning, Sexual Thunder, Allie Porter Band, Billie Davies,
Miss Mojo, Mike Dillon & more. Evan has toured nationally with O.A.R., Allen Stone, and Elle
King.
Oliver Watkinson - Electric & Upright Bass.
Born in Brunswick Maine,
Oliver began studying
music at the age of five. He attended college
in Boston at the New England
Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to study upright
jazz bass and perform with greats such as Lee Konitz, Dave Holland,
Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, and many more. In 2014, Oliver moved to New Orleans and began performing with BILLIE DAVIES in
2015, Gandhi Castle, Laelume, and various street
bands. He has taught and performed all over the United States,
as well as Central America and Canada.
Born in Brunswick Maine,
Oliver began studying
music at the age of five. He attended college
in Boston at the New England
Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to study upright
jazz bass and perform with greats such as Lee Konitz, Dave Holland,
Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, and many more. In 2014, Oliver moved to New Orleans and began performing with BILLIE DAVIES in
2015, Gandhi Castle, Laelume, and various street
bands. He has taught and performed all over the United States,
as well as Central America and Canada.
FEATURING
FEATURING
Ari Kohn -
Reeds
Born in Portland, OR he now lives
in New
Orleans and is a jazz studies graduate from Tulane University. Ari is
fast becoming one of
the important younger musicians in New
Orleans. He is a very creative and dedicated
reeds/woodwind player that can
be found playing with
Brass Lightning, Miss Mojo, Allen Stone,
Elle King, Sexual
Thunder!, Doombalaya, Noruz, and
more.
IRIS P - vocals
Born in Portland, OR he now lives
in New
Orleans and is a jazz studies graduate from Tulane University. Ari is
fast becoming one of
the important younger musicians in New
Orleans. He is a very creative and dedicated
reeds/woodwind player that can
be found playing with
Brass Lightning, Miss Mojo, Allen Stone,
Elle King, Sexual
Thunder!, Doombalaya, Noruz, and
more.
He is a BOOST
Music Teacher at
New Orleans College Prep Charter
Schools.
He played and
performed with the Billie Davies Ensemble horn section in 2015 and
with Billie Davies & The Bad Boyzzzz horn section in 2015/16.
He joined BILLIE DAVIES in January
of 2018 for the “PERSPECTIVES I & II” project.
IRIS P - vocals
Born in 1985, in New Orleans, Catherine
Poree' aka IRIS P, discovered her talent when she received
her very first instrument, a violin,
at the age of 6. From there she went on to perform in orchestra concerts
and a host of plays,
but most of all enjoyed
singing with her mother, the late Marilyn
J. Etienne, also known as LADY GOSPEL.
In 2010 IRIS P started
her mission to "save the world" by performing her original songs written from her extravagant poetry debuting a plethora of songs from her Underground EP "I Got Issues". IRIS P shows style like no-other with Jazz Melodies
when she played
"Billie Holiday" in "Dryades Street
Divas Review" in the summer of 2014, held at Ashe's Cultural
Center. She won "Nola’s Hottest
Female Vocalist In October of 2014" at the Nola Hip Hop Awards, and headlined in the Foundation Room at the New Orleans
House of Blues. She joined BILLIE DAVIES for the recording of “On Hollywood Boulevard” in 2016.
Allie Porter - vocals
Hails from Crofton,
MD and is a singer
and songwriter now living in New Orleans
with honest pipes
and a heart of gold bringing you the
music of your past, present
and future.
