egroj world: Nathan Davis • If

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Nathan Davis • If

Jason Ankeny
The debut release on Nathan Davis' own Tomorrow International label, If remains the funkiest, hardest-driving of the saxophonist's LPs; some distance removed from his previous MPS and Polydor dates, the record boasts a streamlined approach that perfectly serves its relentless grooves: every note and beat means something, and each speaks volumes. Moving deftly from alto to tenor to soprano to flute and back again, Davis' restless energy galvanizes compositions like "Stick Buddy," "New Orleans," and "African Boogie," serving as a fiery counterpoint to Abraham Laboriel's pummeling basslines and Dave Palmer's deeply soulful drum breaks -- his playing possesses a sense of urgency and immediacy often missing from the jazz-funk aesthetic, and it transforms If into one of the finest recordings of its kind.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-mw0001448092

Biography by Scott Yanow
Nathan Davis split his career between being a fine tenor saxophonist and a jazz educator. He played briefly with Jay McShann in 1955, attended the University of Kansas, spent time in the Army in Berlin (1960-1963), and stayed in Paris where he worked with Kenny Clarke (1963-1969), Eric Dolphy (1964), and Art Taylor. He also toured Europe with Art Blakey (1965) and Ray Charles. Starting in 1969, Davis was a professor of jazz at the University of Pittsburgh and Moorhead State University. His two most important musical associations involved leadership of the Paris Reunion Band (1985-1989) and Roots (which he formed in 1991). After 44 years, Davis retired from the University of Pittsburgh in June 2013. He died of congestive heart failure in Florida in April 2018 at the age of 81.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nathan-davis-mn0000377691#biography

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Jason Ankeny
El lanzamiento debut en el sello Tomorrow International del propio Nathan Davis, If sigue siendo el LP más funky y duro del saxofonista; alejado a cierta distancia de sus fechas anteriores de MPS y Polydor, el disco cuenta con un enfoque simplificado que sirve perfectamente a sus ritmos implacables: cada nota y ritmo significan algo, y cada uno dice mucho. Moviéndose hábilmente del alto al tenor, a la soprano, a la flauta y viceversa , la energía inquieta de Davis galvaniza composiciones como "Stick Buddy", "New Orleans" y "African Boogie", sirviendo como un contrapunto ardiente a las líneas de bajo de Abraham Laboriel y las pausas de batería profundamente conmovedoras de Dave Palmer. Su interpretación posee un sentido de urgencia e inmediatez que a menudo falta en la estética jazz-funk, y se transforma en una de las mejores grabaciones de su tipo.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-mw0001448092

Biografía de Scott Yanow
Nathan Davis dividió su carrera entre ser un excelente saxofonista tenor y un educador de jazz. Tocó brevemente con Jay McShann en 1955, asistió a la Universidad de Kansas, pasó un tiempo en el Ejército en Berlín (1960-1963) y se quedó en París, donde trabajó con Kenny Clarke (1963-1969), Eric Dolphy (1964) y Art Taylor. También realizó una gira por Europa con Art Blakey (1965) y Ray Charles. A partir de 1969, Davis fue profesor de jazz en la Universidad de Pittsburgh y en la Universidad Estatal de Moorhead. Sus dos asociaciones musicales más importantes involucraron el liderazgo de Paris Reunion Band (1985-1989) y Roots (que formó en 1991). Después de 44 años, Davis se retiró de la Universidad de Pittsburgh en junio de 2013. Murió de insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva en Florida en abril de 2018 a la edad de 81 años.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nathan-davis-mn0000377691#biography

Tracks:
1 - Stick Buddy - 4:47
2 - If - 5:01
3 - Bahai - 4:34
4 - African Boogie - 6:26
5 - Tragic Magic - 5:19
6 - A Thought For Cannon (Dedicated To Julian Cannonball Adderley) - 6:14
7 - New Orleans - 3:22
8 - Mr. Jive By Five - 5:24

Credits:
    Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Alto], Composed By – Nathan Davis
    Bass – Abraham Laboriel
    Design [Cover] – Ursula Davis
    Drums – Dave Palamar
    Engineer – Ras (4)
    Percussion – Willie Amoaku
    Photography By – Gary Delvecchio
    Piano, Electric Piano – George Caldwell (2)
    Producer – Nathan Davis
    Producer [Associated] – Ursula Davis

Notes:
Recorded June 1976 at Jeree Studios
Originally released on Tomorrow International, Inc. (TMI 1001) 1976

Label:    Universal Sound – US CD29
Country:    UK
Released:    2009
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Jazz-Funk
https://www.discogs.com/release/1785852-Nathan-Davis-If