I love Jesse Davis! I listen to tenor saxophone players about 80% of the time but when I want to listen to an alto saxophone player Jesse Davis is usually my first choice. If you don’t know him check out this video of “The Very Thought of You”…….He has an amazing sound that is huge,fat and soulful. I love how melodic his improvising is. If you don’t know the jazz language you would do well to transcribe him. He has the perfect blend of blues with bebop. Feeling with technique. Enjoy!
The very thought of you – Jesse Davis
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Until I read your blog article today,I had not heard of Jesse Davis. I love his playing and am going to buy some of his music after I finish my blog comment!
Thanks for this, Steve. I hadn’t ever heard of Jesse Davis either.
Great post…I studied with Jesse when he still lived in NY and he is my favorite alto player around. Though I play tenor, I always seem to go back to his sound and phrasing as inspiration….the best.
Have to agree 100% Jesse b the man today on alto. Check out this solo. The lick he plays starting at 3:19 makes the bass player smile — and me too. His cd recording of The Very Thought of You is PERFECT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dqg13BEBGE&feature=PlayList&p=A2D32543C851942E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27
Also note –as with many sax players from New Orleans, Jesse plays with a double lip embouchure
Watch here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKB-6EF6JuA&feature=related
BTW– one of the my favorite recordings of “The Very Thought of You” is pianist Kenny Baron’s version on the CD Table for Two– just great combo of beauty and swing. AND the cd has the GREAT Bob Sheppard playing like Trane on “Say It Over and Over Again” (Ballads CD) and also tracks on soprano ( the best today)and great flute (first heard it I thought it was Hubert Laws– big fat low register
Great musicians make great music!
Highly reco this cd but it is sometimes hard to find because limited pressing as Breast Cancer Society charity