RIP Nathan Davis

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

From his Facebook.

"We are deeply saddened about the passing of saxophonist Nathan Davis. He was an invaluable director and faculty member of Ravinia's Steans Music Institute's Program for Jazz. We will honor Nathan's memory with a performance of his original work "Matryoshka Blues" on June 9. Rest in peace."



R.I.P. Nathan Davis.

He was a very fine saxophonist (Blakey, Larry Young, Woody Shaw, Paris Reunion Band etc) and also a pioneer in university jazz education.Which is what I think he wanted as his legacy.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"Sometime in the mid-1980s -- he can't recall the year -- Nathan Davis invited drummer Elvin Jones, with whom he worked in Paris, to do the (Jazz) seminar. He knew Jones tended to drink heavily and was known to pitch his trap set into the audience from time to time.

"I talked to Elvin, 'Now, we know each other and I'm trying to start something, and if you start acting crazy it'll set me back.' He came and he didn't take one drink [until after the concert]." Bill Ness, who at the time was the head of Pitt's evening school and on the jazz seminar committee, said, "That showed a lot of respect for [Mr. Davis]" -- especially since Jones later did his drum-throwing act in Rio de Janeiro."

BN!

[Ian Thumwood]

Nathan Davis was had quite a high profile in the mid 1980's when he was part of the Paris Re-union band which got a lot of kudos in Jazz Journal at the time.

[Jazzrook]

From his Facebook.

"We are deeply saddened about the passing of saxophonist Nathan Davis. He was an invaluable director and faculty member of Ravinia's Steans Music Institute's Program for Jazz. We will honor Nathan's memory with a performance of his original work "Matryoshka Blues" on June 9. Rest in peace."



R.I.P. Nathan Davis.

He was a very fine saxophonist (Blakey, Larry Young, Woody Shaw, Paris Reunion Band etc) and also a pioneer in university jazz education.Which is what I think he wanted as his legacy.

I dug out my only LP of Nathan Davis, his currently hard-to-find 'Rules Of Freedom'(Hot House HH 1002) recorded in Paris in 1967 with a fine quartet including Hampton Hawes, Jimmy Garrison & Art Taylor.
Would be great to hear a track from this on JRR sometime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m8S0N4lVeA

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I've been listening to his stuff on YouTube. It's surprising he isn't better known, there is some very good playing there. Maybe because he was European based for a lot of the key time. I'm not so struck on the Paris Reunion Band, which despite the personal, sounds a bit ragged and more a blowing band. But Nathan Davis himself is certainly a contender. I seem to remember him on one of my favourite Eric Dolphy tracks along with Donald Byrd. "Spring" or something similar, recorded in Paris.