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
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