Steve Davis

Steve Davis, one of the most beloved trombonists in modern jazz, first dreamed of recording the music of J.J. Johnson some 20 years ago. “Something kept telling me— just wait, just wait.” he says, “Then finally, a year and a half ago, I did the first J.J. weekend at Smoke with this sextet and I finally realized I think I'm ready.” During those 20+ years, Davis was doing a little more than simply waiting, he was busy establishing himself as a worthy heir to his idols: J.J., Curtis Fuller and Slide Hampton. Along the way, he worked with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, the Jackie McLean Sextet, Chick Corea's Origin, Benny Golson's New Jazztet, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Larry Willis, One for All, Freddie Hubbard and the New Jazz Composer's Octet, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, as well as the big bands of Christian McBride, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath and Roy Hargrove.

PERSONNEL:

STEVE DAVIS, trombone
EDDIE HENDERSON, trumpet (*)
ERIC ALEXANDER, tenor saxophone (*)
HAROLD MABERN piano
NAT REEVES, bass
JOE FARNSWORTH, drums

(*) except tracks 5 & 10

TRACKS:

01. Pinnacles
02. What Is This Thing Called Love?
03. Shortcake
04. Mr. Johnson
05. Lament
06. Say When
07. Kenya
08. Shutterbug
09. Village Blues
10. There Will Never Be Another You
11. When the Saints Go Marching In