Jazz Articles about Steve Davis

Steve Davis: Portrait in Sound

by C. Andrew Hovan
October 1, 2000

After four unique and striking dates as a leader for Criss Cross , trombonist Steve Davis has made the switch to a stateside label with Portrait in Sound, recorded for boss Chick Corea’s Stretch subsidiary. Building solidly on his track record, this new endeavor presents not only Davis the trombonist but also Davis the gifted arranger and writer. With buddies from the hard bop collective One For All on hand (Hazeltine and Farnsworth) and vibraphonist Steve Nelson a holdover from ...

Jim Rotondi: Excursions

by C. Andrew Hovan
October 1, 2000

One of the next major talents yet to be discovered by the jazz public at large, trumpeter Jim Rotondi is a dynamo full of the kind of bristling trumpet fire that distinguished such predecessors as Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Over the course of his first two Criss Cross dates, Introducing Jim Rotondi and Jim’s Bop Rotondi proved that he was a capable mainstream player with great promise in terms of developing his own voice. Now with Excursions he goes ...

Steve Davis: Portrait In Sound

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2000

It was bound to happen. Trombonist Steve Davis of Chick Corea's group Origin is releasing his first CD on Chick Corea's label, Stretch. Other Origin artists, past and present, who have signed to the label include Tim Garland, Steve Wilson and Avishai Cohen.A consummate professional, Davis has been building a resume, and his own discography on Brownstone and Criss Cross, for half a decade now. That doesn't include his work with Jackie McLean, One For All, Freddie Cole, ...

Jim Rotondi: Excursions

by David A. Orthmann
July 1, 2000

During the course of Excursions, his third disc as a leader for the Criss Cross imprint, Jim Rotondi continually finds ways of breathing new life into the straight-ahead, three horns and rhythm format. Rotondi has written and chosen a variety of tunes ranging from up and medium tempo swingers (“Angel Eyes,” “Shortcake,” “Little Karin”) to a bossa nova (“Excursions”), to ballads (“Little B’s Poem,” “What Is There To Say”). Further, he writes and utilizes arrangements by the band members that ...

Steve Davis: Vibe Up!

by C. Andrew Hovan
May 1, 2000

It's great to see a good guy with loads of talent get a chance to make a name for himself. Although that may not seem like the most objective thing for a music reviewer to say, the fact of the matter is that this reviewer has been a fan of trombonist/composer Steve Davis for some time now and is glad to see that his string of Criss Cross successes, work with the cooperative One for All, and highly-visible gig with ...

Steve Davis: Vibe Up!

by David A. Orthmann
May 1, 2000

Considering Steve Davis’ nine-months-a-year commitment to Chick Corea and Origin and his ongoing participation in the cooperative band One For All, one might think that his fourth recording as a leader for Criss Cross would sound like a blowing date. It’s quite the opposite. Despite the fact that Vibe Up! was recorded in a single session, the music is well organized as well as thoroughly enjoyable.

With the exception of three cuts with alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo, the front line ...