Shirley Davis

A superior ballad singer and a talented pianist, Shirley Horn put off potential success until finally becoming a major attraction while in her fifties. She studied piano from the age of four. After attending Howard University, Horn put together her first trio in 1954, and was encouraged in the early '60s by Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. She recorded three albums during 1963-1965 for Mercury and ABC/Paramount, but chose to stick around Washington, D.C., and raise a family instead of pursuing her career. In the early '80s, she began recording for SteepleChase, but Shirley Horn really had her breakthrough in 1987 when she started making records for Verve, an association that continued on records like 1998's I Remember Miles and 2001's You're My Thrill…

Along with Mackerras' EMI recording, which appeared at the same time (1966/67), Davis' Messiah established the standard for properly scaled, tastefully ornamented renditions using modern instruments. Like all classic recordings, the musical values embodied on these two well-filled discs haven't diminished a bit. You can still enjoy Davis' lively and sympathetic direction, enthusiastic singing and playing by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, two fabulous female soloists, and though the men are a bit less distinguished, they certainly don't drag the standards down to any significant degree.

Mozart’s “Idomeneo” is a lyrical tragedy and is considered Mozart’s greatest choral opera. It is composed in the baroque tradition of the opera seria; however, Mozart excels at giving it new traits and forms. He also exerted his influence on the dramaturgy, shortened parts to increase their effect, increased the suspense with a dense use of instruments and wrote the marvellous ballet music.

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis & Shirley Scott - Bacalao (1959) {Prestige OJCCD-1090-2 rel 2003}
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© 1959, 2003 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1090-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone / Organ

When it came to tenor saxophonists, the late organist Shirley Scott had excellent taste. One of the big-toned tenor men she worked with extensively was Stanley Turrentine, whom she married; another was Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Recorded in Rudy Van Gelder's New Jersey studio in 1959, Bacalao is among the many solid hard bop/soul-jazz albums that resulted from Davis' association with Scott. The two of them enjoyed an incredibly strong rapport in the late '50s and early '60s, and they are very much in sync on Bacalao (which unites them with bassist George Duvivier, drummer Arthur Edgehill, and two Latin percussion men: Luis Perez and salsa giant Ray Barretto).

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Quintet with Shirley Scott - Jaws In Orbit (1959) {Prestige OJCCD-322-2 rel 1992}
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© 1959, 1992 Prestige / Fantasy | OJCCD-322-2
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone / Organ

Eddie Lockjaw Davis swings way out here – working in that cool cooking mode from the 50s, with organist Shirley Scott a very important partner on the date! The group's got a larger sound than usual – thanks to the addition of trombonist Steve Pullman – a player we don't know much, but who shifts the groove nicely away from some of Davis' more staid cookbook albums. Rhythm is by George Duvivier on bass and Arthur Edgehill on drums – and titles include "Bahia", "Foxy", "Bingo Domingo", and "Can't Get Out Of This Mood".

The Hammond organ, named after its inventor Laurens Hammond, debuted in 1935 as a cost-effective electro-acoustic alternative to the gigantic pipe organs mainly installed in churches. Among Hammond’s first customers were George Gershwin and Count Basie. Jazz pianists like Basie, Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davis and Milt Buckner were the founding fathers of the instrument’s international conquest, which led across all styles of popular music, from jazz to progressive rock, with its heyday in the 1960s and '70s…

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Goin' To The Meetin' (1960-62) {Prestige PRCD-24259-2 rel 2001}
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© 1960-62, 2001 Moodsville / Prestige / Fantasy | PRCD-24259-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone / Organ Hammond B-3

This Fantasy 2001 two-fer reissue features saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis in session with a quintet that includes the Shirley Scott trio (Scott, organ; George Duvivier, bass; Arthur Edgehill, drums) and conga player Ray Barretto. It was released as Eddie Lockjaw Davis Meets Shirley Horn as Moodsville 30 in 1960. With the exception of a quartet recording released on Stompin' (Prestige 7456), the rest was another quintet with pianist Horace Parlan, drummer Art Taylor, Buddy Catlett on bass, and Willie Bobo on conga, issued as Goin' to the Meetin' in 1962 as Prestige 7242.