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Bruce Lindsay’s AAJ review of Steve Davis’ Images

By Bruce Lindsay

Trombonist/composer Steve Davis was commissioned by the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz to compose Images: The Hartford Suite, with track dedicated to a contemporary or historical Hartford figure or place. Thankfully, a detailed knowledge of Hartford, Connecticut is not a prerequisite for the enjoyment of this music; the talent and enthusiasm of the musicians accentuate this set of upbeat, positive, swinging tunes.

This is the Davis quintet’s second album, following Outlook (Posi-Tone Records, 2008). Every member of the band swings with genuine power. Davis plays his trombone with a rich and rounded tone that melds perfectly with the softer tone of Mike DiRubbo’s alto. The addition of Josh Evans on trumpet and flugelhorn on tunes such as “Kenney’s” adds depth to the overall horn sound. The rhythm section drives everything along with just enough of a push to ensure that the band sounds energetic but never hurried. Eric McPherson’s cymbal work is exceptional throughout, his freedom to create intricate and subtle patterns assisted enormously by Dezron Douglas’ strong bass lines.

Davis credits Billy Strayhorn’s influence on “Rose Garden,” a slower and more reflective tune with Davis and pianist David Bryant contributing lovely, sparse solos. The tempo may be slow, but it’s by no means sad or pessimistic; elsewhere, however, tempos are quicker and the tunes are more overtly positive. Bop influences are also direct—not unexpectedly, given that Davis has worked with Art Blakey and acknowledges the great influence of Jackie McLean, to whom he dedicates “J Mac’s Way.” On “Tune For Calhoun” it’s the influence of bebop that has the upper hand; a fast, explosive, number that gives every member of the quintet a chance to deliver effective solos. Kris Jensen adds tenor sax to “Club 880,” which creates a real bite and fullness to the horn lines on this up-tempo tribute to the Hartford jazz venue.

Images: The Hartford Suite is a beautiful work, beautifully played. Inventive but also accessible, this is a celebratory album of uplifting tunes that should find this quintet receiving deserved wider recognition.

Track listing: Nato; The Modernist; Twain’s World; J Mac’s Way; Mode for Miantonomoh; Rose Garden; Tune for Calhoun; Park Street; Kenney’s; Club 880.

Personnel: Steve Davis: trombone; Mike DiRubbo: alto saxophone; Josh Evans: trumpet, flugelhorn; David Bryant: piano; Dezron Douglas: bass; Eric McPherson: drums; Kris Jensen: tenor saxophone (10).

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Dan Bilawsky’s AAJ Review of Images

By Dan Bilawsky

Images is trombonist Steve Davis’ love letter to his hometown of West Hartford, CT. The ten pieces he wrote for the album, and which make up his “Hartford Suite,” are all dedicated to people or places associated with this geographic region. While Davis’ penchant for crisp swing and clear, lyrical lines plays a big part here, some compositional cunning—and some pieces that fall outside this general area—helps to keep things from falling into a stylistic rut.

Dedicated to bassist Nat Reeves, the mid-to-up-tempo swing of “Nato” possesses a persistent, four-note figure that drops in as the parade of soloists pass along. “The Modernist” plays off of oddly placed accents, slightly obscuring an otherwise straightforward feel, while the horns stretch out over some cymbal rolls and arco bass before the music starts to cook on “Twain’s World.” A phrase with a cycling rhythm leads into the solos here, putting Davis and trumpeter Josh Evans in the spotlight. “J Mac’s Way,” dedicated to Jackie McLean, features some of pianist David Bryant’s most absorbing solo work on the album, while the bass hook at the start of the waltzing “Mode For Miantonomoh” is an instant attention grabber. Bryant’s zeal adds a lot to this track, bit its alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo who is the standout soloist, showcasing his unique phrasing and style.

While the first half of the album has plenty to offer, the two tracks that seem to rise above the rest are on the latter half of the recording. Davis admittedly acknowledges the Billy Strayhorn influence on “Rose Garden,” a ballad that exudes all of the tender sophistication and class associated with that genius of jazz composition. While Davis and DiRubbo carefully shape their lines to fit the song’s mood, bassist Dezron Douglas provides some thick bass notes that hang, seemingly suspended in mid-air, behind them. “Park Street” has an infectiously joyous, party-like vibe, and uses a Latin groove as its rhythmic framework, set behind a 12-bar blues-like progression. All the soloists take things up a notch here, and Douglas’ solo is bursting with creative energy. While familiarity with the city of Hartford would probably yield a unique appreciation for this album, the musical images presented here can easily stand on their own.

Track listing: Nato; The Modernist; Twain’s World; J Mac’s World; Mode For Miantonomoh; Rose Garden; Tune For Calhoun; Park Street; Kenney’s; Club 880.

Personnel: Steve Davis: trombone; Mike DiRubbo: alto saxophone; David Bryant: piano; Dezron Douglas: bass; Eric McPerson: drums; Josh Evans: trumpet, flugelhorn; Kris Jensen: tenor saxophone (10).

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Audiophile Audition review for Steve Davis “Images”…

www.audaud.com

Steve Davis – Images – Posi-Tone PR8066, 56:13 ****½:
(Steve Davis, trombone; Mike DiRubbo, alto sax; David Bryant, piano; Josh Evans, trumpet & Flugelhorn; Dezron Douglas, bass; Eric McPherson, drums; Kris Jensen, tenor sax on “Club 880”)

Steve Davis graduated from the University of Hartford in 1989, where he studied under the tutelage of the master, Jackie McLean. After graduation, Davis soon hit the road with Art Blakey. He returned to Hartford in 1992, and has resided there since. On Davis’ latest Posi-Tone release Steve honors his home town on Images -The Hartford Suite. What appears to be the Hartford skyline graces the front cover of the CD. Inside, with the limited liner notes, is a mini-map of the town.

Images contains my kind of jazz – straight ahead classic hard bop, which retains its luster through repeated listening. Like a Jazz Messengers band, Davis’ group blends cohesively, with standout drummer Eric McPherson, like Blakey, driving the beat with cymbal work. Once again producer Marc Free, and engineer Nick O’Toole, have done a righteous job in getting the sound mix just perfect. There is an audiophile quality warmness that fills the soundstage with  near-SACD quality that will be appreciated on a stereo system that highlights midrange acoustics.

You will find something to like on every track, whether it be the horn blend on “Nato” before Davis takes his solo; the relaxing sweetness of “The Modernist,”; the unheralded work of David Bryant on piano and Josh Evans on trumpet and flugelhorn; or the “visits” to the neighborhoods in town described by Davis in his liner notes. Steve honors Nat Reeves on “Nato”, Jackie McLean on “J Mac’s Way”, and jazz clubs Kenney’s and Club 880.

A reviewer’s dilemma in critiquing a CD like Images is that every track pleases and it is difficult to not describe every track in an overly long review. So, I’ll just say that if you love 1960s Blue Note horn-driven hard bop (and most any true jazz LP collector fits into this category), you can’t go wrong taking in the “Images” that Steve Davis brings to the table in his paean to his home town. Now if he only had time to run for mayor. “No new taxes, and jazz on every corner…”

TrackList: Nato, The Modernist, Twain’s World, J Mac’s Way, Mode for Miantonomoh, Rose Garden, Tune for Calhoun, Park Street, Kenny’s Club 880

– Jeff Krow

 

 

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Peter Hum review for Steve Davis “Images”…

communities.canada.com

From New York trombonist Steve Davis come two CDs — the hardbopping Images…

Images is a set of crisp, well-executed originals from Davis, who turns 43 this year but who began his career nearly two decades ago as a sideman in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, that quintessential hardbop band. Just as Davis as stayed true to his stylistic preference in jazz, he’s been associated throughout his career with the the Hartt School of Music at the University of Connecticut in Hartford Hartford in Connecticut — he graduated from that school before joining Blakey, joined the school’s faculty a few years later, and Images includes compositions from Davis’ Hartford Suite.

Joining Davis are alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo, young and fleet-fingered pianist David Bryant, the gutsy bassist Dezron Douglas, drummer Eric McPherson, trumpeter Josh Evans and, on the final track, Club 880,  tenor saxophonist Kris Jensen. With his core sextet, Davis has basically assembled a special forces unit of swing, with crack players who fulfill their duties with utter clarity and efficiency. Each track is crisply conceived and utterly in-the-pocket in terms of its execution. I especially like the catchy Twain’s World, with its swirling intro, modern Messengers feel and snazzy arrangement, and the expansive, waltzing Mode for Miantonomoh. The classic-style ballad Rose Garden makes me think of Billy Strayhorn’s writing. Cumulatively, there might be a feeling that there’s either not enough soloing at length or too many tunes, But each track sounds just fine in its heat of the moment.

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John Barron’s AllAboutJazz review of Steve Davis’ Images

Allaboutjazz.com

Images – The Hartford Suite
Steve Davis | Posi-Tone Records (2010)

By John Barron

Images—The Hartford Suite pays homage to the culture and history of Hartford, Connecticut, courtesy of trombonist/composer Steve Davis, a long time resident of the city and faculty member at the University of Hartford. The ten-part suite is a sizzling set of straight-ahead jazz; stimulating, melodic and swinging. Davis, who co-leads the acclaimed ensemble One For All, and has performed as a sideman with the likes of Jackie McLean and Art Blakey, has assembled an impressive quintet for the session, with trumpeter Josh Evans adding to the mix on a handful of tracks.

Davis’ writing, firmly established in the hard-bop tradition, emphasizes singable themes with tight two and three part harmonies. Each tune offers plenty of wide-open space for solos. An adept improviser with quick-fire agility and relaxed phrasing, Davis sets the pace with winding and witty turns on up-tempo burners (“Nato,” “Tune for Calhoun”), medium swingers (“Twain’s World,” “J Mac’s Way”) and Latin-inspired grooves (“Park Street,” “Kenney’s”).

Alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo and pianist David Bryant share the spotlight throughout, with vibrant, effervescent lines, spurring each other on with intensity and camaraderie. DiRubbo does a more than adequate job channeling the spirit of the late alto sax giant McLean on “J Mac’s World.” Evans brings added warmth to the session, albeit sporadically, especially with flugelhorn in hand on the hauntingly buoyant “Mode for Miantonomoh.” Bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Eric McPherson are solid yet extremely pliable, pushing the top-end of the beat and adding creative intuitiveness.

Who knew Hartford was so hip? Left to the eyes and ears of Davis, the city comes off as one of the swinging-est places on the map. Images—The Hartford Suite is no-nonsense, small group jazz at its finest.

Track listing: Nato; The Modernist; Twain’s World; J Mac’s Way; Mode for Miantonomoh; Rose Garden; Tune for Calhoun; Park Street; Kenney’s; Club 880.

Personnel: Steve Davis: trombone; Mike DiRubbo: alto saxophone; David Bryant: piano; Dezron Douglas: bass; Eric McPherson: drums; Josh Evans: trumpet, flugelhorn; Kris Jensen: tenor saxophone (10).

Style: Straightahead/Mainstream

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Heres another review from the same website of “Outlook” by trombonist Steve Davis…


100greatestjazzalbums.blogspot.com

Rhombus / Posi-tone

Release date: September 30th 2008 / March 24th 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download, iTunes

Steve Davis has been making great ensemble jazz in live performance, with the sextet ‘One For All’ and with a sequence of albums as leader with the seemingly obscurantist Criss Cross label. So, it is good to see that Posi-tone have released “Outlook” and that this album will hopefully reach a wider audience.

The inspiration that Jackie McLean brought to The Jazz Institute that he founded at Hartt School at Hartford University has been bearing fruit – alumni include Jimmy Greene, Tony Leone, Wayne Escoffery, Mike DiRubbo, Dezron Douglas as well as Steve Davis and Eric McPherson, who both also serve as Faculty members there.

The band on “Outlook” – Steve Davis (trombone), Mike DiRubbo (alto sax), David Bryant (piano), Dezron Douglas (bass) and Eric McPherson (drums) – draws on much of this talent as it presents five original compositions and three covers.

It is not surprising to hear that Mike DiRubbo studied alto sax with Jackie McLean. His playing is exemplary throughout with more than a hint of the acid sharpness of his great mentor, particulary on his own composition “Line Of Flight” and on the closing track, a fine reading of Cecil Payne’s “Bosco”.

The three Steve Davis Compositions – the opening title track, “Smooth” and “Mission” – make full use of the potential of the quintet to deliver interesting harmonization and involving soloing. The take on Duke Ellington’s “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)”, featuring the leader’s trombone playing extensively, is a master class in silky, after hours jazz.

Douglas Dezron contributes the oddly titled “Lord Davis” which again features fine alto sax work from Mike DiRubbo.

The only track that could have been dispensed with is the version of Bill Withers’ pop platitude “Lovely Day”. Perhaps there are some tunes that no amount of chord substitution could ever revive.

That should not distract from what is a fine album with strong performances all round.

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Another review for Steve Davis “Outlook”….

100greatestjazzalbums.blogspot.com

Outlook cover

Steve Davis has been making great ensemble jazz in live performance, with the sextet ‘One For All’ and with a sequence of albums as leader with the seemingly obscurantist Criss Cross label. So, it is good to see that Posi-tone have released “Outlook” and that this album will hopefully reach a wider audience.

The inspiration that Jackie McLean brought to The Jazz Institute that he founded at Hartt School at Hartford University has been bearing fruit – alumni include Jimmy Greene, Tony Leone, Wayne Escoffery, Mike DiRubbo, Dezron Douglas as well as Steve Davis and Eric McPherson, who both also serve as Faculty members there.

The band on “Outlook” – Steve Davis (trombone), Mike DiRubbo (alto sax), David Bryant (piano), Dezron Douglas (bass) and Eric McPherson (drums) – draws on much of this talent as it presents five original compositions and three covers.

It is not surprising to hear that Mike DiRubbo studied alto sax with Jackie McLean. His playing is exemplary throughout with more than a hint of the acid sharpness of his great mentor, particulary on his own composition “Line Of Flight” and on the closing track, a fine reading of Cecil Payne’s “Bosco”.

The three Steve Davis Compositions – the opening title track, “Smooth” and “Mission” – make full use of the potential of the quintet to deliver interesting harmonization and involving soloing. The take on Duke Ellington’s “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)”, featuring the leader’s trombone playing extensively, is a master class in silky, after hours jazz.

Douglas Dezron contributes the oddly titled “Lord Davis” which again features fine alto sax work from Mike DiRubbo.

The only track that could have been dispensed with is the version of Bill Withers’ pop platitude “Lovely Day”. Perhaps there are some tunes that no amount of chord substitution could ever revive.

That should not distract from what is a fine album with strong performances all round.

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AAJ review of Steve Davis “Outlook”…

www.allaboutjazz.com

Trombonist Steve Davis has spent much of his two-decade jazz career in larger ensembles—big bands but most notably sextets, from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Chick Corea’s Origin and the co-op band One for All to Benny Golson’s New Jazztet. But when Davis leads his own bands or puts out his own records he thinks smaller. Outlook is six quintet, two quartet tracks, with Davis joined by pianist David Bryant, bassist Dezron Douglas, drummer Eric McPherson and alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo (in the quintets).

There’s an old jazz term in disuse today that perfectly describes Davis’ trombone playing: cool. His very tone—rich and velvety, as if the brass of his horn was burnished by suede—combined with his penchant for the middle and lower registers is the essence of cool. And his eloquent, understated lyricism is hard to find in many players of his generation (born in the late ’60s). The two quartet ballad tracks here, Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and Ellington’s “I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” are as good as cool gets.

But cool doesn’t necessarily mean lacking verve or swing. There’s plenty of that here too from Davis’ own buoyant originals—the bright title tune, Blakey-ish “Mission” and especially “Smooth,” an akimbo take-off on smooth jazz with a spicy kick. McPherson is the indispensable fulcrum that leverages the excitement of the quintet numbers, from his “Take Five” take on the waltz “Line of Flight” to his rim shot Latin rhythms on “Bosco.” But both Bryant and DiRubbo bring a tart angularity to the proceedings that contrast nicely with the leader’s emphatic chill.