Bryan Davis

Happy New Year!

bryandavis — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:16:13 +0000

Just stopping by to quickly wish anybody reading a very Happy New Year! I’ll be back with more news shortly (things are about to get shaken up here on the site) as I have time to write it, in between shows – I’m in London playing the Rat Pack in the West End for a few weeks.

Happy Birthday Clark Terry!

bryandavis — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:53:00 +0000

A little late in the day, perhaps, but still in time to wish Clark Terry a very happy 91st birthday!

I had the tremendous honour, through my day job, of rebuilding Clark’s website, a few months ago. It’s so gratifying to see the communication from friends and fans, which is now possible due to the Guestbook and commenting features I intoduced. Clark has been such an inspiration to me for many years, and it’s wonderful that the thousands of others who share that artistic debt can now have a simple way to express it to him.

Mr Ho’s Orchestrotica – Aug 27 in Bethlehem, PA

bryandavis — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:44:28 +0000

A quick reminder that I’m playing this coming Saturday, 27th August in Bethlehem, PA with the fabulous “Mr Ho’s Orchestrotica”. This 22 piece big band is dedicated to reviving the remarkable music of Juan Garcia Esquivel; considered by many to be Mexico’s answer to Duke Ellington! It’s a great band with a great book and I always have tremendous fun trying to play the ludicrous things written in the Lead Trumpet charts!

Details are as follows:
Musikfest Cafe @ ArtsQuest Center
101 Founders Way.
Bethlehem, PA
United States
7:30pm show.

Tickets are $42 & $32 and are available from the ArtsQuest Center website.

Hope to see you there!

Update: This event has been cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. The plan is to reschedule – details will be posted when we have them.

July ’11

bryandavis — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:09:08 +0000

During the month of July, I’m home in New York; firmly ensconced in the usual routine of practising, teaching and playing rehearsals and gigs in and around the city. One exception, that takes me a little further afield, is a gig on July 10th up in Springfield, MA. On this occasion, I’ll be playing Lead Trumpet with Kendrick Oliver’s New Life Jazz Orchestra for their performance at the Hoop City Jazz and Art Festival. If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there – details are on my Schedule page.

Looking back to June, I had a great trip back to the UK, visiting family and friends and doing some playing and teaching. One highlight while I was there was resurrecting the “Quarter To Four” band at Grimsby Jazz. We had a great time playing and it was so nice to see so many old friends, both on and off the bandstand. I made a reference recording of the evening and have posted a couple of samples in my Soundcloud account – they are linked elsewhere on the site.

Just before I left for the UK, I spent a chop-bursting evening at the Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, attempting to play the lead book with The Chase Experiment. Bandleader Jackie Coleman has painstakingly transcribed much of the music of Chase; the iconic Trumpet-section-led Jazz/Rock group devised by former Woody Herman lead trumpet, Bill Chase. I’ve enjoyed that music for a long time and playing it gave me a new appreciation for what a monstrous player he was!

Upon my return to New York, I played with the Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble for the Jazz Vespers service at St Peter’s Church. Nathan has written some great, if slightly unconventional, music and it was tremendous fun to play something a bit different. I look forward to playing with them again soon.

Hope you’re having a great summer.

More From Grimsby Jazz

bryandavis — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:20:30 +0000

I’ve uploaded a few more of the tracks from the recent gig at Grimsby Jazz. They’re in a set on SoundCloud, which should be embedded below. Enjoy…

Grimsby Jazz Audio Sample

bryandavis — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:35:01 +0000

I had a great trip to the UK last week – it was long overdue to get back and visit family and friends! While I was there, I played a very fun gig with the “Quarter To Four” band at Grimsby Jazz. Named for the time at which this last minute replacement group was finalised before our last gig almost three years ago, we were invited to play again when the organisers at Grimsby Jazz heard I was coming over. It’s a fun sextet comprising some good friends of mine who also happen to be tremendous players!

I recorded the gig, for my own reference, and thought you might enjoy hearing a song from it – either because you weren’t there or were and (hopefully) enjoyed it! Here’s “Alone Together” by Dietz & Schwartz.

The musicians are:

Pat McCarthy – guitar
Piero Tucci – piano
Ken Marley – double bass
John Perry – drums
Bryan Davis – trumpet

The sixth member of the group is Tony Burkill on tenor sax, who chose not to play on this tune. I’ll upload one that he is featured on another time!

June 2011

bryandavis — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:23:56 +0000

June sees a welcome return to the UK, the first since my emigration to the States. I’m very much looking forward to seeing family and friends. I’ll be predominately based in Cleethorpes, at my parents’ place, from June 7-14 but am open to offers, if anybody finds they could use me for a gig elsewhere.

The one gig I do have on the books is at Grimsby Jazz in Thursday, June 9th. We will be reprising the so-called “Quarter to Four” band that proved so successful a few summers ago. So called because of a last minute mix up, on the day of a supposed Grimsby Jazz gig with a different band; the replacement group was finally settled at 3:45pm! It will be a great pleasure to play with Pat McCarthy (guitar), Piero Tucci (piano/saxes) and Tony Burkill (tenor sax) again. Rounding out the band this time will be Ken Marley (bass) and John Perry (drums). It promises to be a good night!

There are some lesson spots available, while I’m in the UK. I will likely be visiting friends in Leeds on Sunday, June 12th and can be elsewhere as the situation dictates. Please check the Teaching page for details and drop me a line if you’re interested. Skype lessons are always available, as well, as when I’m in NYC. However, the smaller time difference may make them more viable for interested students in Europe – I know that can make scheduling a headache sometimes.

On the subject of lessons, I must offer my apologies for the current absence of the Store on my site. If you would like to organize a lesson, please drop me a line and I can send you a PayPal link to prepay your Skype (or in-person) lesson. The store will be fixed shortly.

Enjoy your summer!
BD

Store Problems

bryandavis — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:52:06 +0000

It has come to my attention that there are some problems with the Store, here on the site. It has been effectively ruined by a recent software upgrade. While I figure out how to fix it, I’ve temporarily had to remove the Store pages.

If you are interested in booking a lesson or buying a copy of the Gansch and Roses CD “Resal” (2 copies left right now!), please send an email via the Contact page. I’ll get back to you at my earliest opportunity.

Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for looking in!

Bryan

Return of the Store

bryandavis — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:07:36 +0000

Following a brief absence, while we dealt with some technical problems, the BryanDavis.info Store is now back online. Products include Lessons, sheet music of trumpet exercises and, while stocks last, the latest CD by Gansch & Roses – “Resal”.

Mnozil Brass – “In Japan, Part 4″

bryandavis — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:38:48 +0000

I was reminded, the other day, of this hilarious video featuring Mnozil Brass in an excerpt from their current “Magic Moments” show. If you’re not familiar with the group, it’s well worth spending some time checking them out on YouTube. Then go and see them live. It is a show not to be missed!