Deborah Davis

I love jazz because I believe it speaks to my musical intelligence and it makes me feel like singing. I love music in general, but I can listen to a lot of other song genre's that simply don't make me want to sing at all. There's something about the magical songwriters of the jazz era that speaks to me. I’m also a poet so it’s their way with words. I was first exposed to jazz by my High School Choir Director, jazz pianist Robert Sanders who added me to his weekend gigs while telling my mom we were going to sing at a church revival or gospel showcase. Hanging out with my teacher and mentor I met Red Garland who asked me to sing and Cedar Walton who were both from Dallas, TX. So many jazz greats on tour stopped in Dallas. When I met Dizzy Gillespie at a outdoor concert I remember his saying, “young lady I heard you could sing”. At the time, I had no way of really knowing who Dizzy was, so in all my Aries confidence I replied, “if you wanna find out you can call me up ”. Of course I said it jokingly. But I had no fears in my youth. The Farimont Hotel in Dallas had great Jazz Concerts where I met Betty Carter who's trio volunteered to play with me one Sunday on their off night. The next year Betty showed up at my gig which was a few blocks from the Farimont. It was Lewis Nash and Benny Green who were playing with Betty that convinced me that I should move to NYC. At the Fairmont Hotel Concerts, I also met Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn who nick named me Bb, and Abbey Lincoln who told me that I looked like her and Billie. When I met Max Roach he thought so too. I later subbed for Abbey at the Blue Note after I moved to NYC. Here in NY I believe I’ve met EVERYBODY who is or was anybody in Jazz. The greats used to ALL hang out and I was a regular at Bradleys and Sweet Basil. I met Tommy Flanagan, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Heath, Stanley Turrentine, Chick Corea, George Coleman, Monte Alexander, Al Jarreau, George Benson. There's no way I can name them all. After 2 years in NYC I needed to start touring so I met Nancy Wilson in Japan because we always seemed to be in Japan at the same time. I'd go to her gigs at the Blue Note @ 6pm and then she and her trio would all come to mine afterwards . She was like an Auntie or big sister. Etta Jones was a dear friend to me after I moved to NYC. I have shared the stage with Red Garland, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Brown, Art Blakey, Lou Donaldson, Harold Mabern, and a whole lot more since I have lived in NYC since 1986. The best shows I ever attended are Tommy Flanagan Trio at the Village Vanguard , and Oscar Peterson Trio at the Blue Note. Both these shows had me in tears. Two other honorable mentions are Al Jarreau and George Benson concerts. I think I saw George in Greece. He also fell asleep on my shoulder at the Zinc Bar one night. We were both there to see Ron Affif who recorded my 1st CD with me. Yes, the first Zinc location was tight. My first jazz record, I received as a gift from a trumpet player in college. It was Betty Carter's Social Call. Unfortunately, I never got to tell her that. My advice to new listeners is to listen to the originators of jazz first and often. When I was introduced to records I would listen to one artist a month and thats how I learned. I might alternate a singer with a horn player or pianist or bassist . But I learned a lot of great music that way. I would get music in the college library until I finally bought a turntable. I have always sung despite having no family musical influences what so ever. Singing has simply been a part of who I am as soon as I began to speak. I didn't know that the Nat King Cole Show I saw on TV as a child was jazz. But he became my 1st Celebrity Crush when I was just a child. His show aired 1956-1957 but it was probably the reruns that I saw in the 60’s since I was only 1 year old in 1957. I love the energy and the staying power of jazz. Jazz is about more than just the chords or melody . It’s a feeling, good or bad, happy or sad that creeps into ones improvisations and touches those who can relate and might be feeling the same way. Jazz has become a buz word for even those who don’t quite know what it is. That’s why I’m happy to now be an Booking Agent for several International hotels that want JAZZ, but keep running being approached by agents who provide singers who sing contemporary pop. Not on my watch. I’ve created an authentic jazz atmosphere which has generated many great travel reviews. My motto’s are......“have charts, will travel” and “if there are Giggs to be gigged, I’m gigging ‘em”. Deborah Davis