To hear someone’s original composition is really like having a window into his or her soul and to discover something unique about that person. Everything that has influenced that composer, including their background, attitude and musical taste comes out, and everyone listening gets a chance to venture into that composers world for a bit. It is obvious when someone is really being true to them selves when you listen to their original work and that is just what you get when you hear the music of Chris Davidson.
Chris’s influences are pulled from many sources that are not only limited to jazz. As he did not grow up playing jazz in his teens, Chris discovered jazz in his first year at Five Towns College in Long Island where he was studying music business while attending theory classes, taking private drum and vibraphone lessons. He also played in the jazz orchestra and smaller jazz combos at the school. He later went to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he was able to hone his composition skills and amerce himself in the New York music scene.
Before listening to jazz Chris mainly listened to and played rock, rhythm and blues and reggae music. However, before he started playing jazz he would listen to the records that his father had by Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and Erroll Garner. Intrigued by these artists, he knew that there was something that really set them apart from all the other music that he was listening to at the time. “There was something so fascinating about the way those musicians approached each and every note and how they really put a piece of themselves into the music.”
As a drummer Chris is always trying to approach the drum set from a compositional and orchestral aspect rather than that of just a drummer. He also makes it his goal to create a conversation while playing the drums and in his compositions, where the phrases are the musical sentences and the notes that construct them are the words. In Chris’s playing you can here a wide variety of influences and a sensitivity and high musical energy. Since attending the New School Chris has had the pleasure to study with many high profile musicians like Reggie Workman, Jane Ira Bloom, Leann Ledgerwood and drummers such as, Ali Jackson, Charlie Persip, Ari Hoenig, Mark Guiliana, Billy Martin, Obed Calvaire and Kendrick Scott. “He is highly motivated and dedicated to moving forward in his musical development and as a drummer Chris possesses a wide dynamic range in his playing and a great ear.” – Kendrick Scott
Since his move to New York City in 2009 Chris has been a part of many groups that perform through out NYC and around the Tri-State area and performs around the city as a leader in his own ensembles as well, where he plays original music and adaptations of standards. Chris has also played gigs on piano for weddings, cocktail party’s, fundraisers, and also teaches piano and drums privately in Brooklyn.
Look out for the Chris Davidson Quintet playing around the city from postings on this site and for gigs where Chris is a sideman. There is much more music to come !!!!
ENJOY!