Steve Davis Quintet Featuring Abena Koomson Davis

What to expect: An evening of lyrical, hard swinging trombone paired with a warm, theatrical vocalist, in the up close setting of a true jazz listening room. Two seasoned performers and a night of music you can feel from a few feet away.

Personnel:
Steve Davis · Trombone
Abena Koomson-Davis · Vocals
Rick Germanson · Piano
Matt Dwonszyk · Bass
Jonathan Barber · Drums

Steve Davis is one of the leading trombonists in jazz today, known for a lyrical, hard swinging style. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts and raised in Binghamton, New York in a household where jazz was always playing, he went on to study with Jackie McLean at the University of Hartford's Hartt School. McLean recommended him to Art Blakey, and in 1989 he joined the Jazz Messengers, appearing on Blakey's final recordings Chippin' In and One for All. After Blakey's passing he joined the Hartt faculty, and he later played in Chick Corea's Origin, recording with the group in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Since the mid 1990s Davis has also been a member of the acclaimed sextet One for All, alongside Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber, and Joe Farnsworth. As a leader he has released around 20 albums since his 1994 debut The Moon Knows, for labels including Criss Cross, Posi-Tone, and Smoke Sessions, and he has appeared on more than 100 recordings with artists such as Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Harold Mabern, and Natalie Merchant. His composition "Optimism" appeared on Christian McBride's Grammy winning album Bringin' It.

Abena Koomson-Davis is a performer, educator, and writer with a résumé that spans stage, jazz, and funk. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with a master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, she was an original cast member of the Broadway musical FELA! and originated the role of Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti in the Off-Broadway production at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. She has been the featured vocalist of the funk rock band Van Davis for over a decade, sings with the a cappella trio Saheli and the Cool Rulers, and has performed with Stevie Wonder.

Beyond the stage, Abena is musical director of the Women's March Resistance Revival Chorus and an educator at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York. Her jazz debut, Where Is Love, on WJ3 Records, blends standards with original songs and showcases a voice that moves easily between jazz, funk, and theater.

The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.