Walter Davis Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Davis Jr.
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Photo by Carlo Rondinelli
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 2, 1932 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 1990 (aged 57) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–1990 |
| Labels | Blue Note, Denon, Palcoscenico, Mapleshade, SteepleChase |
| Associated acts | Jazz Messengers |
Walter Davis Jr. (born September 2, 1932 – died June 2, 1990) was a talented American jazz pianist. He was known for playing in styles called bebop and hard bop. Walter Davis Jr. was a musician who could play on his own, lead a band, and play with other artists. Even though he played with many famous musicians, he was not always a widely known name himself.
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Who Was Walter Davis Jr.?
Walter Davis Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia. He started playing music when he was young. As a teenager, he played with a group led by Babs Gonzales. In the early 1950s, he moved from Richmond to New York. This is where he began to play with some of the biggest names in jazz.
Early Music Career
In New York, Walter Davis Jr. played with jazz legends like Max Roach and Charlie Parker. He even recorded music with Max Roach in 1953. Later, in 1956, he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band. With Gillespie, he traveled to places like the Middle East and South America. In 1958, he played in Paris with another musician named Donald Byrd. A year later, in 1959, he joined Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers. This was a very famous jazz group.
Walter Davis Jr. married a songwriter named Mayme Watts. She was a singer who performed with his own group, the Walter Davis Jr. Trio.
A Break from Music
At one point, Walter Davis Jr. decided to take a break from music. He worked as a tailor, making clothes. He was also a painter and a designer. But he loved music too much to stay away for long.
Returning to Jazz
In the 1960s, Walter Davis Jr. came back to the music world. He started producing records and writing music for a group in New Jersey. He also traveled to India in 1979 to study music. In the early 1970s, he played with the famous jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He also played with the Jazz Messengers again.
Walter Davis Jr. recorded with many other important jazz musicians. These included Kenny Clarke, Sonny Criss, Jackie McLean, Pierre Michelot, and Archie Shepp.
His Unique Music Style
Walter Davis Jr. was known for playing the music of Bud Powell. He also made an album that showed the style of another great pianist, Thelonious Monk. He wrote many songs that became titles for albums by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. His songs often mixed traditional music with new styles. They had many changes in rhythm and beautiful melodies. Some of his well-known compositions include "Scorpio Rising," "Backgammon," "Uranus," "Gypsy Folk Tales," "Jodi," and "Ronnie Is a Dynamite Lady."
Walter Davis Jr. also appeared on television. He had a small role as a piano player on the TV show Frank's Place. He also helped with the music for the movie Bird in 1988. This movie was about the life of Charlie Parker.
Later Life and Passing
Walter Davis Jr. passed away in New York City on June 2, 1990. He was 57 years old.
Music Recordings
Walter Davis Jr. made many recordings throughout his career. He recorded albums as a band leader and also played with many other musicians.
As a Band Leader
Here are some of the albums where Walter Davis Jr. was the main artist:
- 1959: Davis Cup (Blue Note) – He played with a group including Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean.
- 1977: Illumination (Denon)
- 1979: Night Song (Denon)
- 1979: Uranus (Palcoscenico)
- 1987: In Walked Thelonious (Mapleshade) – This was a solo piano album.
- 1989: Scorpio Rising (SteepleChase)
Playing with Other Artists
Walter Davis Jr. played piano on many albums for other jazz musicians. Here are a few examples:
- With Art Blakey: Africaine (1959), Paris Jam Session (1961)
- With Donald Byrd: Byrd in Hand (1959)
- With Dizzy Gillespie: World Statesman (1956), Dizzy in Greece (1957)
- With Jackie McLean: New Soil (1959), Let Freedom Ring (1962)
- With Max Roach: The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley (1954)
- With Sonny Rollins: Horn Culture (1973)
