Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Xavier Davis

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Name
  
Xavier Davis


Role
  
Jazz Pianist

Xavier Davis wwwglobalmusicfoundationorguploadsimagesPxav

Education
  
Interlochen Center for the Arts

Albums
  
True Life Stories, Dance of Life, Meant To Be, Forever, Innocence of Youth

Music group
  
The New Jazz Composers Octet

Similar People
  
Dwayne Burno, Jimmy Greene, Carl Allen, Jeremy Pelt, Craig Handy

First steps into reality by xavier davis the quincy davis septet


Xavier Davis (born 1971 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and music educator who leads the Xavier Davis Trio. In addition to performing with the Christian McBride Big Band and other groups as a side man. In 2014 he was appointed Associate Professor of Jazz Piano at Michigan State University. He previously taught at the Juilliard Jazz program at the Juilliard School for six years. He performed on the Grammy-winning album The Good Feeling with the Christian McBride Big Band. Davis was the Musical Director for the Boys Choir of Harlem for the 1999-2000 season. He appeared on the television series Cosby as a pianist.

Contents

Xavier Davis wwwmusicmsueduassetsfacultyphotosXavierDav

Jazz piano xavier davis trio the day will come quincy davis


Awards

Davis became the first person to twice receive a New Works Grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation as part of Chamber Music America.

Biography

Davis came from a family of music educators, so he had an early start in music, studying piano at age 4, trombone at 8, and touring Europe before High School. He attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school.

While performing with his college ensemble at the 1994 International Association of Jazz Educators convention in Boston, legendary vocalist Betty Carter caught his performance and brought him to New York to work exclusively with her group, the Betty Carter Trio. Davis recognizes former Juilliard Jazz faculty chair and drummer Carl Allen, James Williams, and Billy Hart as mentors.

As composer/arranger

As a composer, arranger, Davis has worked for

  • Carl Allen,
  • Regina Carter
  • Hans Schuman
  • As producer

    Xavier has produced albums, film and commercial music including:

  • "Wise Children" by Tom Harrell (2004) (Bluebird)
  • "Easy to Love by Lizzie Thomas (2013) (CD Baby)
  • As sideman

    Xavier Davis has performed and recorded on more than 50 albums as a sideman for:

  • Betty Carter
  • Freddie Hubbard
  • Tom Harrell
  • Christian McBride
  • Regina Carter
  • Stefon Harris
  • Abbey Lincoln
  • Wynton Marsalis
  • Don Byron
  • Nat Adderley
  • Nicholas Payton
  • Jon Faddis
  • Jimmy Greene
  • Steve Turre
  • Al Foster
  • Jeremy Pelt
  • Dion Parson
  • Ron Blake
  • Davis plays with:

  • The New Jazz Composers Octet.
  • The Christian McBride Big Band
  • The Ron Blake Quartet
  • As leader

  • Dance of Life
  • The Innocence of Youth
  • References

    Xavier Davis Wikipedia


    Similar Topics