New York trombonist/composer Michael Davis marks the release
of his 11th album with his most dynamic and energizing offering to date.
Hip-Bone Big Band showcases the electricity and energy of the modern big band
and features an elite roster of New York legends and young lions. The 12
original compositions and arrangements feature a handful of internationally
renowned trombone virtuosi, including Davis, Michael Dease, Marshall Gilkes,
Conrad Herwig, Andy Martin, Bob McChesney and Bill Reichenbach.
Additionally, the prodigious ensemble is comprised of a
who’s who of the jazz and big band worlds including Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
veterans Dick Oatts on lead alto, Nick Marchione handling lead trumpet duties and
Scott Wendholt holding down the jazz trumpet chair. The saxophone section also
features jazz great Bob Malach, Paul Simon’s featured tenor man Andy Snitzer
and Steely Dan horn section member Roger Rosenberg on the baritone saxophone.
The chairs of rhythm are manned by the best of the best with longtime member of
Yellowjackets, drummer Will Kennedy, handling much of the drum
responsibilities, New York jazz veteran David Finck anchoring the bass
department and long time Chris Botti keyboardist Andy Ezrin rounding out the
section on piano.
In addition to the virtuosic ensemble playing and soloing
featured on the project, Hip-Bone Big Band is a showcase for Davis’s trademark
compositional and arranging style. As a frequent guest artist at colleges
around the country for the past 20 years, Davis has been able to write a wide
array of pieces that showcase all aspects of big band performance and the
trombone in particular.
“Some of these compositions were originally written in the
late ’90s, while others were finished a few days before going into the studio,”
Davis says with a smile. “Having an ensemble of this magnitude record your
music is a dream come true for any musician.”
Davis’s pedigree in the world of big band jazz is as
formidable as it is noteworthy. Fresh out of college at the age of 21, he
signed on for what would become a two-year stint with Buddy Rich and his
high-energy big band. A gig Davis still describes as “one of the best
experiences of my career.” During his two years with Buddy, the band would
often be utilized as a warm up act for Frank Sinatra and many of the horn
players from Buddy’s band would be used to supplement Sinatra’s orchestra. Due
to this good fortune, Davis was eventually offered a position in Sinatra’s
touring band and ended playing lead trombone with Ol’ Blue Eyes for the better
part of seven years.
After further stops with the orchestras of Woody Herman and
Louis Bellson, Davis landed a chair in the great Bob Mintzer big band. Mintzer
has gone on to become a mentor and major influence to Davis both as a player
and a writer. “Bob has been a major inspiration and influence on me and I’m
absolutely honored to have been a part of his band for 25 years” says Davis.
Based on his longstanding commitment to music education,
Davis will also offer the recording (in physical or digital format) free to
students at all schools he is a guest artist at in the future. “It’s vitally
important for young musicians to have the opportunity to listen to and emulate
the music they perform, and in this case, the music from Hip-Bone Big Band.
Through this album, I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to their musical
development in some small way.”
Davis has enjoyed a diverse and acclaimed career over the
past three decades. Widely known as the trombonist for the Rolling Stones from
1994 to 2007, he toured and recorded with Frank Sinatra from 1988 to 1994,
released 11 solo albums, composed over 150 works, authored 13 books and
appeared on over 500 albums and motion picture soundtracks. He is the founder
and president of Hip-Bone Music, offering a wide variety of educational tools
aimed to assist young brass players including online master classes, books,
extensive interviews with top brass players and practice routines.
As testimony to his versatility and wide regard, the list of
jazz and pop luminaries he has worked with includes: Michael Jackson, James
Taylor, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Jay Z, Sarah Vaughan, Sting, Beck,
Branford Marsalis, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Bob Mintzer, Paul
Simon, David Sanborn, Terence Blanchard and scores of others.
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