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Steve Davis Sextet feat. Abena Koomson-Davis
Through time- honored standards and original compositions, jazz trombonist Steve Davis and vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis embrace and celebrate the jazz tradition. Their most recent collaboration, Koomson-Davis’s 2024 release Where is Love (WJ3 Records) brings together beloved treasures of the American songbook such as “Paper Moon” and “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” alongside Davis originals such as “Easy” and “Perseverance” to which Koomson-Davis has set lyrics. Whether in the studio or on the bandstand, a dynamic conversation ensues. Supported by a swinging rhythm section, this unique pairing of trombone and voice not only highlights the similarities between the two, it combines the elements of interpretation and improvisation to bring about a dialogue that is energetic, sincere, and filled with joy.
Bios:
Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. Davis has worked with jazz luminaries such as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (Steve penned the title track of Blakey’s final album, One For All), Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Benny Golson, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Roy Hargrove, Willie Jones III, Avishai Cohen, Eric Alexander & Joe Farnsworth. Raised in Binghamton, NY, Steve’s many notable performances include The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with Stevie Wonder and The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis appears on nearly 200 recordings (20 as a leader), including his acclaimed release, Bluesthetic (Smoke Sessions). Steve appears on multiple Grammy-winning recordings including Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band, Antidote and Christian McBride’s Big Band, Bringin’ It. In addition to leading his own bands, Steve continues to work regularly with Nat Reeves, One For All, Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars. Steve also collaborates regularly both with his son, guitarist Tony Davis and his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis. They each appear on Natalie Merchant’s latest release, Keep Your Courage. In addition to playing regularly in NYC, Steve maintains an active presence on the vibrant local CT jazz scene. A long-time educator, Steve has guided a broad range of emerging musicians at the Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division, University of Hartford, CT where he was recently honored for over 30 years of service and as ’23 Alumni Of The Year. In Fall ’22, Professor Davis left Hartt to join the Berklee College of Music Brass Department as Full Professor. Other prestigious educational affiliations have included the San Francisco Conservatory’s RJAM faculty, Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops, Skidmore Jazz Workshop, Jazz in July at UMASS Amherst, Stanford University Jazz Workshop. Steve’s latest release, Steve Davis Meets Hank Jones Vol. 1 (2023) captures never before heard sessions with the legendary pianist in one of his final recordings, and also features bassist Peter Washington. www.stevedavismusic.com
Vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis is a performer, educator and wordsmith. From jazz to afrobeat to acapella choral singing, Abena’s work spans a colorful range of musical genres. Abena originated the role of Fela’s mother in the Off Broadway musical FELA! and reprised her role in the Broadway production which earned 3 Tony awards. She has performed with Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Angelique Kidjo, Natalie Merchant, and many other luminaries. Abena can be heard on two duets from Merchant’s most recent release, Keep Your Courage, and recently appeared with Natalie on Good Morning America. For over 15 years, Abena has been the lead vocalist of the NYC based funk rock band Van Davis. She is the musical director for the Resistance Revival Chorus, which has appeared at Carnegie Hall, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and with Kesha at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Chorus collaborators have included Deva Mahal, Valerie June, Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, Jim James, and Nathaniel Rateliff. Abena’s song “Joy in Resistance” is featured on the chorus’s debut album, entitled “This Joy.” Abena enjoys writing about music and recently penned two articles for National Sawdust, one of New York’s premier cultural institutions. Abena’s first jazz album Where is Love (2024) on WJ3 Records features jazz trombonist Steve Davis, her husband and musical collaborator. Abena is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts, and Teachers College, Columbia University where she earned a Masters in Education Leadership. She currently serves as Ethics Chair of the middle school division at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where she teaches ethics and social justice to middle & upper school students.
This project is made possible in part by a grant from the George T. and Winifred K. Lacey Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York.
