Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Walter Davis, Jr.'s debut record as a leader for Blue Note is a terrific hard bop session, a driving collection of six original tunes that emphasize the strengths not only of the pianist himself, but also his supporting band: trumpeter Donald Byrd, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Art Taylor. Apart from the lovely ballad "Sweetness," Davis Cup moves along at a brisk pace, with the rhythm section urging the soloists to new heights. Byrd has rarely sounded better, and on this date McLean provides ample evidence that he was moving beyond the conventions of hard bop and developing his own unique style. Davis, of course, does more than acquit himself -- he contributes an engaging, energetic performance that keeps the music grounded. His compositions are just as captivating, whether it's the swinging "Rhumba Nhumba" or the darkly invigorating "Minor Mind." It all adds up to a wonderful straight-ahead hard bop date, one that's so good it's a wonder that Davis didn't receive another chance to lead a session until 1979.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/davis-cup-mw0000174254
Biography
by Ron Wynn
An often remarkable and inventive bebop and hard bop pianist, Walter Davis Jr. once left the music world to be a tailor, but returned. A solid soloist, bandleader, and accompanist, he amassed a good body of work while never becoming a high-profile name even within the jazz community. Davis played with Babs Gonzales' Three Bips & a Bop as a teen, then moved from Richmond to New York in the early '50s. He played with Max Roach and Charlie Parker, recording with Roach in 1953. He joined Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1956, and toured the Middle East and South America. He also played in Paris with Donald Byrd in 1958 and with Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers in 1959. After retiring from music for a while to run his tailor shop, Davis returned in the '60s, producing records and writing arrangements for a local New Jersey group. He studied music in India in 1969, and played with Sonny Rollins in the early '70s. Davis had another stint with the Jazz Messengers in 1975, then led his own group in New York. Davis recorded for Blue Note, Mapleshade, Debut, Denon, and Red and for various French labels. He did sessions with Roach, Rollins, Sonny Criss, Jackie McLean, Pierre Michelot, Archie Shepp, Kenny Clarke, Byrd, and Blakey, among others. Some Davis dates are available on CD.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/walter-davis-jr-mn0000227539/biography
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Reseña
por Stephen Thomas Erlewine
El debut de Walter Davis, Jr. como líder de Blue Note es una excelente sesión de hard bop, una colección de seis temas originales que enfatizan la fuerza no sólo del propio pianista, sino también de su banda de apoyo: el trompetista Donald Byrd, el saxofonista alto Jackie McLean, el bajista Sam Jones y el baterista Art Taylor. Aparte de la encantadora balada "Sweetness", Davis Cup avanza a un ritmo rápido, con la sección rítmica impulsando a los solistas a nuevas alturas. Byrd rara vez ha sonado mejor, y en esta cita McLean proporciona una amplia evidencia de que se estaba moviendo más allá de las convenciones del hard bop y desarrollando su propio estilo único. Davis, por supuesto, hace algo más que cumplir: contribuye con una actuación atractiva y enérgica que mantiene la música en el suelo. Sus composiciones son igual de cautivadoras, ya sea el swing "Rhumba Nhumba" o la oscura y vigorizante "Minor Mind". Todo ello se traduce en una maravillosa cita de hard bop directo, tan buena que es de extrañar que Davis no recibiera otra oportunidad de dirigir una sesión hasta 1979.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/davis-cup-mw0000174254
Biografía
por Ron Wynn
Un pianista de bebop y hard bop a menudo notable e inventivo, Walter Davis Jr. dejó una vez el mundo de la música para ser sastre, pero regresó. Sólido solista, director de banda y acompañante, amasó una buena obra sin llegar a ser un nombre destacado ni siquiera dentro de la comunidad del jazz. Davis tocó con el grupo Three Bips & a Bop de Babs Gonzales cuando era adolescente, y luego se trasladó de Richmond a Nueva York a principios de los años 50. Tocó con Max Roach y Charlie Parker, y grabó con Roach en 1953. Se unió a la banda de Dizzy Gillespie en 1956 y realizó una gira por Oriente Medio y Sudamérica. También tocó en París con Donald Byrd en 1958 y con Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers en 1959. Tras retirarse de la música durante un tiempo para dirigir su sastrería, Davis volvió en los años 60, produciendo discos y escribiendo arreglos para un grupo local de Nueva Jersey. Estudió música en la India en 1969 y tocó con Sonny Rollins a principios de los 70. Davis volvió a formar parte de los Jazz Messengers en 1975 y luego dirigió su propio grupo en Nueva York. Davis grabó para Blue Note, Mapleshade, Debut, Denon y Red y para varios sellos franceses. Realizó sesiones con Roach, Rollins, Sonny Criss, Jackie McLean, Pierre Michelot, Archie Shepp, Kenny Clarke, Byrd y Blakey, entre otros. Algunas fechas de Davis están disponibles en CD.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/walter-davis-jr-mn0000227539/biography
1 - 'Smake It - 5:25
2 - Loodle-Lot - 5:55
3 - Sweetness - 8:55
4 - Rhumba Nhumba - 6:50
5 - Minor Mind - 6:30
6 - Millie's Delight - 5:50
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean
Bass – Sam Jones
Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
Drums – Art Taylor
Liner Notes – Joe Goldberg
Mastered By – Larry Walsh
Photography By [Photos] – Francis Wolff
Piano – Walter Davis Jr.
Producer – Alfred Lion
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Notes:
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on August 2, 1959
Label: Blue Note – BLP 4018, Blue Note – 4018
Released: 1959
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/1248453-Walter-Davis-Jr-Davis-Cup
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