{"title":"Richard Davis","description":"\u003cp\u003eBorn in Chicago, Illinois on 15 April 1930, Richard Davis became one of the most recorded and versatile bassists in history, appearing on over 3,000 recordings spanning jazz, classical, rock, and pop before his death in Madison, Wisconsin on 6 September 2023, aged 93. He attended VanderCook College of Music whilst playing with both classical orchestras and jazz combos at night, working in the early 1950s with Sun Ra and spending a year with Ahmad Jamal's trio before moving to New York City in 1954 with pianist Don Shirley.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavis toured and recorded with Sarah Vaughan from 1957 to 1960, including a European tour, before becoming one of the most in-demand bassists of the 1960s, recording over 20 groundbreaking albums in 1964 alone. His work graced canonical jazz recordings including Eric Dolphy's \u003cem\u003eOut to Lunch!\u003c\/em\u003e, Andrew Hill's \u003cem\u003ePoint of Departure\u003c\/em\u003e, and Tony Williams' \u003cem\u003eLife Time\u003c\/em\u003e, whilst his 1967 co-led album \u003cem\u003eHeavy Sounds\u003c\/em\u003e with Elvin Jones on Impulse! showcased his extended solo on \"Summertime\". Producer Lewis Merenstein enlisted Davis to musically direct Van Morrison's 1968 masterpiece \u003cem\u003eAstral Weeks\u003c\/em\u003e, where Davis and his handpicked band created music for songs they had never heard, with Merenstein later calling Davis \"the soul of the record\". A founding member of the Thad Jones\/Mel Lewis Orchestra from 1966 to 1972, Davis won DownBeat's Best Bassist poll for eight consecutive years from 1967 to 1974. Equally at home in classical music, he performed under conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky, Leopold Stokowski, and George Szell, whilst also recording with Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand. In 1977, he accepted a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he spent nearly 40 years as Professor of Bass, founded the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists in 1993, and became a 2014 NEA Jazz Master.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"elvin-jones-and-richard-davis-heavy-sounds-1976-japanese-impulse-gatefold-lp","title":"Elvin Jones And Richard Davis - Heavy Sounds (1976 Japanese Impulse! Gatefold LP)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"1061\" data-end=\"1214\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSleeve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e None\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur grading system explained \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dpbg4u-d1.myshopify.com\/pages\/secondhand-grading-guide\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhoto is of the actual item.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElvin Jones And Richard Davis - \u003cem\u003eHeavy Sounds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP - 1976 Japanese ABC Impulse! Stereo Gatefold Reissue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrummer Elvin Jones and bassist Richard Davis co-lead this 1967 session exploring the boundary between soul-jazz and post-bop, their rhythmic partnership driving six tracks recorded over two days (19 and 20 June) in New York. Tenor saxophonist Frank Foster and pianist Billy Greene appear on four tracks, while Jones and Davis perform two duets including an extended reading of \"Summertime\". Originally released in 1967 as A-9160, this session captures Jones between his legendary work with the John Coltrane Quartet (which had recently dissolved) and his own long-running group. Released in Japan in 1976 as part of Impulse's Best Collection series and manufactured by Nippon Columbia, this gatefold stereo pressing showcases the rhythmic mastery of two of jazz's most powerful rhythm section players.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe quartet tracks feature Foster's robust tenor saxophone and Greene's bluesy piano over the formidable foundation of Jones and Davis, whose interaction demonstrates telepathic rhythmic understanding. Jones' drumming, famous for its polyrhythmic complexity and explosive power in the Coltrane context, here shows equal mastery of soul-jazz grooves and swinging post-bop. Davis' bass work provides both harmonic grounding and melodic invention, his instrument functioning as equal voice rather than mere timekeeper. The Count Basie classic \"Shiny Stockings\" receives modern treatment, while originals like \"Raunchy Rita\" and \"M.E.\" showcase the group's ability to balance groove with sophisticated improvisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two duets reveal the core Jones-Davis partnership stripped to essentials. \"Summertime\" becomes a vehicle for extended exploration, the familiar Gershwin theme serving as launching point for bass-drums dialogue that demonstrates how rhythm section players can sustain interest without harmonic instruments. \"Elvin's Guitar Blues\" (despite the title, no guitar appears) further showcases their rhythmic rapport. Manufactured by Nippon Columbia in gatefold format as part of the Impulse Best Collection series, this pressing captures Jones and Davis at a transitional moment, bridging Coltrane-era intensity with soul-jazz accessibility.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Impulse!","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43200634585147,"sku":null,"price":110.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0630\/3203\/3339\/files\/IMG_6065.jpg?v=1770508074"}],"url":"https:\/\/lushliferecords.com.au\/collections\/richard-davis.oembed","provider":"Lush Life Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}