Steve Davis Quintet
Friday, April 05
7:30PM
Lineup:
Steve Davis - Trombone
Abena Koomson-Davis - Vocals
Rick Germanson - Piano
Dezron Douglas - Bass
Jason Tiemann - Drums
Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today's leading voices on the trombone. A graduate of The Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, Davis first gained widespread recognition in 1990 as the last to join the Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Steve’s first record dates would be Blakey's last, including One For All (A&M), the title track penned by Davis. Over the years, Davis has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as his first mentor Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Cecil Payne, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Freddie Hubbard & The New Jazz Composers Octet, Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and big bands led by Ron Carter & Christian McBride, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Rene McLean, Nat Reeves, Avishai Cohen, Roy Hargrove & Willie Jones III.
Raised in Binghamton, New York, Steve has performed at major venues around the world including appearances at the North Sea, Montreal, Vienne, Montreaux, Newport, JVC, Detroit, Chicago & Playboy Jazz Festivals, the Tonight Show with Stevie Wonder and at The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis appears on nearly 200 recordings, including 20 as a leader. His 2022 release "Bluesthetic" (Smoke Sessions) includes an all-star band featuring Steve Nelson, Peter Bernstein, Geoff Keezer, Christian McBride & Willie Jones III playing a program of Steve's originals. Steve also appears with his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis' on her 2024 debut release, "Where Is Love" (WJ3) and they are each featured on Natalie Merchant's acclaimed 2023 release "Keep Your Courage" (Nonesuch). A long time jazz educator, Davis is currently on faculty at the Berklee College of Music after serving 31 years at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, CT.