We See Steve Davis

• 1 Milestones 08:10
• 2 To Wisdom, the Prize 06:20
• 3 We See 08:35
• 4 Up Jumped Spring 11:11
• 5 Star Eyes 10:50
• 6 Ask Me Now 08:47
• 7 All Blues 12:29
• Total Runtime 01:06:22

Info zu We See

Trombone master Steve Davis convenes a remarkable all-star sextet at Smoke Jazz Club for a stunning concert recording. We See features Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet, and Lewis Nash.

Trombonist Steve Davis was still in his late teens when he first shared the stage with trumpet master Eddie Henderson. At the end of the set, Henderson encouraged Davis, telling him, “Man, you're going to be a star one day.”

That prediction has long since been fulfilled. Davis is revered as one of the leading trombone voices in modern jazz, featured on more than 100 recordings with such legends as Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and Hank Jones. He served a brief tenure in the formidable ranks of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and later co-founded the all-star sextet One for All. JazzTimes called him, “an updated amalgam of J.J. Johnson and Slide Hampton,” hailing his “inventive ear for harmony and passion for melody,” while no less an icon than Freddie Hubbard lauded him as “one of the greatest trombone players in the world.”

So, to call the ensemble that Davis has assembled for his latest release, We See, an all-star sextet is definitely no exaggeration. The album features trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Essiet Essiet, drummer Lewis Nash. Recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club, We See is the latest release in a series of live recordings celebrating the 25th anniversary of the club and the tenth anniversary of its record label.

The album’s title, of course, is borrowed from the Thelonious Monk classic of the same name, featured here in a bracingly swinging rendition. The “We” half hints at the many connections represented in the band, which extend to the liner notes penned by the trombonist’s father, journalist Jeff Davis. A lifelong jazz aficionado, the elder Davis would volunteer to cover notable jazz performances coming to Binghamton, NY, and wrote liner notes for albums by Buster Williams, Larry Coryell and Joe Beck.

Davis’ history with Henderson has included countless performances and recordings, including Davis’ 2015 Smoke Sessions release Say When. Moore, Rosnes and Nash all played together with trombonist J.J. Johnson, one of Davis’ heroes. Essiet and Davis served together as Jazz Messengers, while the trombonist has worked often with Nash, including on 2017’s Think Ahead and with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and the Jimmy Heath Big Band.

Other connections can be traced, allowing the band to draw on well-honed chemistry while experiencing the thrill of a first-time meeting of all six on stage together. Rather than confront the band with new music to navigate, the bandleader called a set of smartly chosen classics, each one fertile ground for this superb band to stretch out and explore.

“We had very little written music on stage, so we could maintain a very natural, spontaneous feeling,” Davis enthuses. “But within that, some really beautiful ensemble playing shined through, along with plenty of freewheeling, swinging, hard playing. The approach was to take all this experience and friendship and seasoning and just play some jazz.” (The emphasis makes clear that this is not as easy as it sounds – at least not on the intended level.)

Rosnes echoes the leader’s enthusiasm. “Joining forces with these magnificent musicians on the Smoke stage was a joy,” the pianist says. “Our many years of friendship come through in the music, and every set was filled with excitement, discovery, and good vibes.”

The setlist includes favorites by the likes of Monk, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard, but Larry Willis’ stentorian “To Wisdom, The Prize” stands out. Not just a stellar composition, the piece provided an opportunity to pay homage to the great pianist, who passed away in 2019. Willis became one of Davis’ closest collaborators over the years, serving a foundational role on many of the trombonist’s albums, including Think Ahead with Nash. “Larry Willis was a dear friend and very close to many of us in the band,” Davis says. “All of us loved him and loved his music, and ‘To Wisdom, The Prize’ is a modern classic. I hope this recording helps to honor Larry and his great works.”

Extending the use of the Monk title from the album to a name for what will hopefully be a recurring band is a wise choice on Davis’ part. Its conciseness is reminiscent of Muhammad Ali’s famously terse two-word poem, “Me / We.” A mere one letter longer, We See captures the myriad qualities of the sextet: its collective and communal spirit, as well as its forward-looking approach and the visionary qualities of each member.

“We've seen a lot collectively and individually,” Davis says. “We're continuing to see and search right now. It’s so gratifying to be in the midst of all that musicality and creativity.”

Steve Davis, trombone
Eddie Henderson, trumpet
Ralph Moore, tenor saxophone
Renee Rosnes, piano
Essiet Essiet,double bass
Lewis Nash, drums

Steve Davis
is widely regarded one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. Davis first gained widespread recognition with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (‘90) composing the title track of Blakey’s last album, One For All (A&M). In the years since, Steve has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Roy Hargrove, Willie Jones III, Joe Farnsworth, Eric Alexander & One For All. Davis has also been a steady member of big bands led by Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, Christian McBride and John Lee & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars.

Steve has appeared on The Jimmy Fallon Show with Stevie Wonder and at The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis plays on over 200 recordings, including 20 as a leader. His recent releases on Smoke Sessions include “Meets Hank Jones Vol.1 & 2”, featuring Steve in a trio setting recorded in 2008 with renowned bassist Peter Washington & legendary pianist Hank Jones and “We See”, which features Davis in a live setting along with a stellar lineup including Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet and Lewis Nash. Additionally, Davis and pianist David Hazeltine are featured on the cooperatively-led CD “Primary Influences” (Cellar Live).These albums have all received extensive critical acclaim.

Steve’s original composition, “Optimism” appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release Bringin’ It (2018). Davis also received a Grammy for playing on Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band release “Antidote” (2019). Davis collaborates with his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis on her debut “Where Is Love” (WJ3 Feb ’24) which also features his son, guitarist Tony Davis.

A long-time educator, Steve has guided generations of emerging musicians including a 31-year tenure at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute, University of Hartford, CT where he was honored as ’23 Alumni Of The Year.

Currently, Davis is Full Professor of Trombone at the Berklee College of Music and is Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Purchase College, SUNY.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet