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Richard Davis
Richard Davis is an international performing musician and Professor of Bass (European Classical and Jazz), Jazz History and combo improvisation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Chicago born, he came to the UW-Madison in 1977 after spending 23 years in New York City establishing himself as one of the world’s premier bass players. Downbeat International Critics Poll named him Best Bassist from 1967-74. He has recorded a dozen albums as a leader and 3000 recordings and jingles as a sideman. His performance/recording credits include Sarah Vaughan, Eric Dolphy, Don Sebesky, Oliver Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band, Dexter Gordon, Ahmad Jamal and a host of other notables.
Mr. Davis is equally at home in the world of euro classical music, having played under the batons of George Szell, Leopold Stokowski, Igor Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, Gunther Schuller, and Leonard Bernstein. His great versatility as a bassist keeps him in constant demand for worldwide concert appearances. For nearly fifty years he has drawn enthusiastic audiences in Japan, Europe, Russia, South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, The West Indies, Hong Kong , Israel and United States. His most recent CD release (May 2000) , The Bassists: Homage to Diversity (King Records) was recorded in Japan. This CD was inspired by experiences related to diversity dialogue. His second CD with King records So In Love was assembled with the idea of embracing the oneness of humankind.
In 1993, he founded the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists, Inc. which annually brings in 17 masterful bass instructors/performers to teach young bassists ages 3-18.In 1998 he created the Retention Action Project (R.A.P.) focused on open dialogues in subjects that educate all of us to multicultural differences. R.A.P. collaborated with Vice Chancellor Paul W. Barrows (student affairs) and Seema Kapani, Diversity Education Coordinator/Trainer (Equity and Diversity Resourse Center).He has been instrumental in bringing to the UW campus renowned speakers and social change activists such as Peggy McIntosh, Jane Elliott, Francie Kendall, Nathan Rutstein, Victor Lewis, Hugh Vasquez (Color of Fear, Stir Fry Productions,1994) and Allan G. Johnson (Gender Knot). Prof. Davis is devoted to equity issues and shares freely his wisdom, home, and resources with one and all to help create an environment where all can experience dignity and peace. He has also initiated a chapter in Madison of the “Institutes for the Healing of Racism, Inc.”
Prof. Davis has received honorary doctorate degrees in Musical Arts and Humane Letters, and the Hilldale Award for distinguished teaching from former Chancellor Donna Shalala, and a honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Edgewood College, Madison, in 1998. In 2000 he received the Manfred E. Swarsensky Humanitarian Award from the Rotary Club Of Madison. In 2001 he received the Governor’s of Wisconsin Arts Award.
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Continue ReadingAlbert Ayler: More Lost Performances Revisited
by Chris May
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Continue ReadingDorothy Ashby: With Strings Attached, 1957-1965
by John Chacona
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Continue ReadingEric Dolphy: Outward Bound To Out To Lunch Revisited
by John Eyles
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Continue ReadingTony Williams: Life Time & Spring Revisited
by Maurizio Comandini
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Continue ReadingThe New NEA Jazz Masters: Richard Davis
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
The 2014 NEA Jazz Masters will receive their awards in a ceremony at New York’s Lincoln Center Monday evening, January 13. The four recipients are pianist Keith Jarrett, saxophonist Anthony Braxton, bassist Richard Davis and—in the jazz advocacy category—publisher, recording executive and musician Jamey Aebersold. They will be the 32nd group in the jazz community to be so honored since the National Endowment for the Arts established the recognition program in 1982. The affair will include performances by young musicians ...
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Bass Hits: Richard Davis, Eddie Gomez, Buster Williams
Source:
All About Jazz
New York, NY - May 21 - Three elite bassists whose combined credits represent a Who's Who in Jazz will share the stage on Monday, May 24 in New York City in a special “Bass Hits" program at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Cultural Center Goodman House (129 West 67th Street). Jazz masters Richard Davis, Eddie Gomez and Buster Williams will appear as the featured performers, accompanied by the dynamic drummer Lenny White and renowned pianist James Williams. Tickets ...
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Virtuoso Bassist Richard Davis in Clinic Crafters Workshop at Birdland Sunday, May 23
Source:
All About Jazz
From the audience, a great performance comes across like a seamless miracle. If you could get the performer's commentary on what he does, though, you'd learn that each combines theory, technique and tricks of the trade with his talent in a totally individual way - and that's what students and fans have the opportunity to discover in an intimate series of workshops at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 from 1pm - 3 pm.
Richard Davis is ...
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Clinic Crafters is Back with New Exciting Workshop with Bass Virtuoso Richard Davis May 23
Source:
All About Jazz
Bass Hits: Richard Davis, Eddie Gomez, Buster Williams
Source:
All About Jazz
Bass Is The Place At Merkin Hall Three elite bassists whose combined credits represent a Whos Who in Jazz will share the stage on Monday, May 24 in New York City in a special Bass Hits program at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Cultural Center Goodman House (129 West 67th Street). Jazz masters Richard Davis, Eddie Gomez and Buster Williams will appear as the featured performers, accompanied by the dynamic drummer Lenny White and renowned pianist James Williams. Tickets ...
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Richard Davis
Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Born: April 15, 1930
Died: September 6, 2023
