Kris Davis

[Mark Stryker]

Had an interesting talk the other day with Kris Davis, a pianist and composer whose work I like quite a bit. Wrote it up here: http://www.freep.com/article/20131023/ENT04/310230007/Kris-Davis-Edgefest-Kerrytown

Edited October 23, 2013 by Mark Stryker

[Steve Reynolds]

thanks, Mark

I've seen Kris fairly often over the past few years in a number of different ensembles and I continue to be intrigued. The most powerful aspect of her playing/composing and bandleading (whether it be pure improvisation like a quartet I saw her with Mat Maneri, Drew Gress and Jim Black) is the silences/spaces and the tensions that are created by the spaces that she and her bandmates.

Her playing and arrangements for Tony Malaby's Novela is and are tremendously original and her Capricorn Climber band live this past Spring/Summer took huge steps forward from a couple of years ago and is way beyond what they recorded for the CD on clean feed.

I will miss LARK (Laubrock, Alessi, Rainey and Kris) who is playing the end of this month - I think this Saturday but I will NOT miss the following ensemble which I am pretty sure will be freely improvising:

Saturday, Nov 30 - 9:00PM & 10:30PM Cornelia Street
KRIS DAVIS EXPERIMENTAL QUARTET
Kris Davis, piano; Sam Newsome, saxophone; William Parker, bass; Ches Smith, drums

[colinmce]

That last group sounds cool. I'd love to hear the one with Maneri, Gress & Black above all.

[CraigP]

I love her playing, and as Steve pointed out, her arranging on Novella was great as well. I'm usually in for whatever recording she's on.

[Steve Reynolds]

That last group sounds cool. I'd love to hear the one with Maneri, Gress & Black above all.

Black was actually a day of the shwo replacement for Nasheet Waits

pure improvisation for 2 sets which were blocky, detailed and much as she describes in her conversation with Mark. Very intense and tension filled especially during the quieter or microscopic passages.

and never did Black even break into one of the massive grooves that he is well known for - it simply would not have worked with those musicians - especially with Mat and Kris who are a great combination. Kris has always been best as an improvisor to these ears when she plays with Mat Maneri. the quiet and intense duet passages between the two of them stun these ears.

Yes - very much look forward to hearing the quartet with Newsome, WP and Ches Smith.

Edited October 24, 2013 by Steve Reynolds