Rare And Obscure Bob Davis Albums

 Bob Davis was born in Cosmos, Minnesota, July 26, 1927. By the age of 18, Davis was playing improvisational jazz with some of the greats. His styles were ahead of his time. Jazz greats such as Stan Kenton & Count Basie had looked at Davis as one of the greatest jazz pianists of the time.

His playing career did not become fully known to the world because he stopped touring early on to join Hugh Hefner as music director for the Playboy Club in Chicago. He then went on to form his own management company which had such clients as The Jacksons, Ike and Tina Turner, Waylon Jennings, and many more. He still played later in his life, doing shows in the US and South America, and was always considered the finest of technicians.

Bob played with musicians in his quartet and trio such as Stu Anderson (father of TV's Richard Dean Anderson), Bill Blakkestad, Dave Karr, Johnny Frigo, Marcel St. Laurent, and many others. He appeared on bills with Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, and was a personal favorite of Stan Kenton.

Bob Davis passed away in 1996. It is our hope that his music lives on. Please enjoy these treasures. *soundclick.com*

Bob Davis Quartet

Jazz From The North Coast

&

Jazz in Orbit

This pianist was directly inspired by the efforts of his mother, also a piano player who frequently hit the road with touring bands. Bob Davis began his music career as a drummer and by age 13 had been absorbed into a family band. Leaving home meant not only no longer backing up his mother, but a chance to play piano himself. Prior to starting his own group, which was active through the '50s and recorded for several small labels, Davis spent a couple of years gigging with Herbie Fields.

The Davis group, featuring fellow Minneapolis jazzman Bill Blakkestad on drums, gigged frequently around the Midwest, including Chicago. With his drummer inclined to steal attention with solos in the style of Buddy Rich, the pianist also became known for technical mastery. It makes sense that two of the pianists that Davis picked out as influences over the years, Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell, are both known for technical virtuosity. While country & western music may seem like the opposite end of the spectrum, Davis has also dabbled down the road in Nashville. He established a relationship with guitarist and producer Chet Atkins on the 1953 Jazz from the Hills project that led to some other session work, a highlight of which is his cocktail piano goofs on sides by the insane song comedians Homer & Jethro. *Eugene Chadbourne (allmusic.com)*

The Davis group, featuring fellow Minneapolis jazzman William Blakkestad on drums, gigged frequently around the midwest including Chicago. With his drummer inclined to steal attention with solos in the style of Buddy Rich, the pianist also became known for technical mastery. It makes sense that two of the pianists that Davis picked out as influences over the years, Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell, are both known for technical virtuosity. *Jordi Pujol*

1 - Goose

(Bob Davis)

2 - Just The Way You Look Tonight

(Kern, Fields)

3 - Nancy

(Van Heusen, Silvers)

4 -It's All Right With Me

(Porter)

5 - The Song Is You

(Kern, Hammerstein II)

6 -Night In Tunisia

(Gillespie, Paparelli)

7 - Willow Weep For Me

(Ronell)

8 - China Boy

(Winfree, Boutelje)

9 - River Road

(Bob Davis)

10 - The Lady Is A Tramp

(Rodgers, Hart)

11 - Adam's Evening

(Bob Davis)

12 - Windy City

(Karr)

13 - Darn That Dream

(De Lange, Van Heusen)

14 - Blues In Orbit

(Bob Davis)

15 - Dr. Pepper

(Bob Davis)

16 - Cherokee

(R. Noble)

17 - Buzzy

(C. Porter)

18 - Star Eyes

(De Paul, Don Raye)

19 - I Remember April

(De Paul, Don Raye, Johnston)

20 - Sometimes I'm Happy

(Youmans)

21 - Up In Ray's Pad

(Bob Davis)

22 - Deedee's Dream

(Karr)

#1 to #10: from the album Jazz From The North Coast (Zephyr ZP 12001G)

Bob Grea (alto sax ,tenor sax, baritone sax), Bob Davis (piano),

Stu Anderson (bass), Bill Blakkestad (drums).

Recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1957

#11 to #22: from the album Jazz In Orbit (Stepheny MF4003)

Dave Karr (flute, tenor sax, baritne sax), Bob Davis (piano),

Johnny Frigo (bass), Bill Blakkestad (drums).

Recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1958