Jessamine is the name of the street I grew up on, and this album is a symbolic return to that origin point—a musical homecoming. The songs are like keepsakes gathered along life’s journey—echoes of memories, influences, people, places, and transformative experiences that have shaped me. This body of work represents a culmination of my musical and creative roots, many of which were planted in those early days on Jessamine Street. That sense of home extends beyond the physical place: two of the musicians featured on the album, Jonathan Barber and Matt Dwonszyk, are also from Hartford. I came up learning and playing music alongside them—looking up to them in my formative years—so having them on this record brings the story full circle.
Growing up in a house filled with music—my parents are both acclaimed jazz musicians—meant that artistry, creativity, and emotional depth were part of everyday life. Brilliant artists were constantly passing through our home, and their presence left a lasting impression. I didn’t fully grasp the significance—or the good fortune—of that environment until much later. This album is a way of recognizing that foundation and honoring it.
Conceptually, I imagine placing each of these songs—these keepsakes—back inside that house on Jessamine Street. It’s about reconnecting with the seeds that were planted early on and viewing them through the lens of all I’ve lived and learned since. Not just a nostalgic return, but a full-circle synthesis of experience, influence, and identity.
About the songs:
And I Do – Originally inspired by the final lyrics of the jazz standard I Should Care: "I should care, and I do." The song embodies dedication to my relationship to music and how emotionally intense it can be. It’s a nostalgic reflection of a lifelong relationship with music and how, despite all the challenges, it’s always been there for me.
Cumbia de Dos Caras – Inspired by my love of Latin music, which started when I heard my neighbors on Jessamine St., a beautiful Peruvian family I spent nearly every day with, playing great salsa and other Latin music. It also reflects my extensive travels throughout Latin America over the years and my love of the Cumbia rhythm. The title means Two-Faced Cumbia, resembling the bipolar nature of the music lifestyle.
I Will – A Beatles tune my mom used to sing to me as a lullaby.
Jessamine – About childhood me and the house I grew up in. The major sections of the song resemble the joyous, creative inner child in me, while the minor section represents the adult version of me, more withered by life and in turmoil.
Trinkets From Mars –A nod to Hartford, CT (where I’m from) and all the musical influences and personal relationships that come from its lineage, including the people playing on the song. The great Jackie McLean, a legendary jazz musician from Harlem, moved to Hartford and cultivated the scene there. My father used to play in his band, and Jackie became a close family friend. He used to refer to Hartford as Mars.
Secret Love – A jazz standard I’ve always loved. I wanted to include at least one American Songbook tune as a nod to my love of that tradition and its influence on my musical blueprint.
Sphere of Blues – An ode to the blues, my first love on guitar. It encapsulates different approaches to the blues form and my deep love for that tradition. The title is also a play on the last name of a girl I fell for years ago—it didn’t work out, so, of course, I got the blues.
There You Are – About reconnecting with the muse—and loved ones—who were always there, even when I couldn’t see it.
Unrequited – A piece by Brad Mehldau, one of my biggest musical influences, and a fellow Hartford native. He actually played at my parents' wedding.
Viridian – Viridian is a shade of green I’ve always loved and been drawn to since childhood. One time in my adult life, I had an experience that caused me to sob harder than ever before—it felt like I was releasing very old childhood tears. During this, visions of Viridian green kept appearing in my mind.
Hailing from Hartford, CT, Tony Davis is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer based in New York City. He has performed at prestigious venues such as The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Birdland, and at major festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival. In 2016, he was recognized as a rising star guitarist at the Wes Montgomery Tribute Festival in Indianapolis, IN performing alongside legends of jazz guitar such as Bobby Broom, Peter Bernstein and Pat Martino.
Tony’s music seamlessly blends elements of various Latin traditions, folk, rock, and classical music into his deep roots in jazz, contributing a unique and compelling voice to contemporary music. He has recently led performances in Mexico, Chile, and Paris, and over the years, he has shared the stage with notable musicians like Anderson .Paak, Christian McBride, Joe Farnsworth, George Coleman, Abraham Burton, Sullivan Fortner and Harold Maeburn.
In 2020, he signed with the acclaimed record label Posi-Tone and released his debut album, Golden Year, which features an all-star lineup including Dezron Douglas, Eric McPherson, Steve Davis, Alina Engibaryan, JK Kim, Steve Wilson, and David Bryant. His unique style and musical prowess quickly garnered attention, cementing his place as a significant contemporary artist. In 2022, Davis furthered his career by signing with La Reserve Records, a leading force in modern genre-crossing music. His first release on the label was Daring Two Be, a duet album with Brazilian vocalist Jamile Ayres. This was followed by Cloud Nova (2024), a full-length album that marked his first major foray into the singer-songwriter realm while still rooted in jazz. His next album, Jessamine—a deeply personal and stylistically expansive project—is set for release in Fall 2025.
