Jackie Davis

Jackie Davis (December 13, 1920 – November 2, 1999) was an American soul jazz singer, organist and bandleader. He is notable for his contributions in bringing the Hammond organ to the forefront of jazz and pop, preceding the better-known Jimmy Smith by several years.[1]

For the New Zealand author, poet, and playwright, see Jackie Davis (writer).

Jackie Davis
Davis on the cover of his 1958 album
Most Happy Hammond
Background information
Born(1920-12-13)December 13, 1920
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 1999(1999-11-02) (aged 78)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
GenresJazz, soul jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader
InstrumentsHammond organ
Years active1951–1980
LabelsCapitol, Warner Bros., EMI
Associated actsLouis Jordan
Websitejackiedavis.info

Life and career

Davis was born and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and started playing piano at the age of ten, before studying music at Florida A&M. He experimented with jazz on the pipe organ, before switching to the Hammond. He was influenced by Wild Bill Davis and Bill Doggett, and after a spell backing Louis Jordan, he started fronting his own jazz groups.[2][3]

His solo career began in earnest after a residency at the Club Harlem in Philadelphia in 1951, and from there he began touring across the US, with the Hammond now being his trademark. He notably preceded Jimmy Smith in using the instrument in small jazz combos.[1] Regular touring led to a recording contract with Capitol, with whom he recorded several albums. His initial sessions were on a Model B, but by the time he recorded Hi-Fi Hammond Vol.2, he had upgraded to the classic B-3.[1]

In the 1960s, he signed to Warner Bros. Records, releasing Easy Does It as The Jackie Davis Quartet, following it up with Jackie Davis Plus Voices, which also featured the Sid Bass Chorus on backing vocals. For this album, Davis put more of an emphasis on his vocal skills, using the Hammond sparingly.[1]

He made a brief comeback in 1980, recording a self-titled album for EMI, and making a cameo appearance in the film Caddyshack as the country club valet Porterhouse. He kept Jacksonville as his homebase and died on November 2, 1999 following a stroke.[3]

Legacy

While Davis is remembered mostly as a jazz organist, he was capable of a wide variety of styles, though he himself preferred to focus on jazz. In 1963, in an interview for the Hammond Times, he thought "the term 'jazz' is vastly overworked and misused ... Basically, jazz is a style of making music."[1] He felt that the Hammond gave him the versatility he needed to emulate the sound of a big band in a small group. Author and Hammond enthusiast Scott Faragher feels that Davis' recorded output has been overlooked because it sounds dated, but stresses his importance in giving the Hammond recognition in the jazz and pop world should not be underestimated.[1]

Shirley Scott stated her playing was influenced by Davis, claiming he knew "everything about the Hammond organ" and was impressed with his ability to manipulate the instrument.[4]

Discography

Studio albums
YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1952Jackie Davis TrioTrend TL-101010" LP
1956Hi-Fi HammondCapitol T-686LP
1956OrganisticsKapp KL-1030LPreissue of Trend album plus 4 additional songs
1957Chasing ShadowsCapitol T-815LP
1958Jumpin' JackieCapitol T-974LP
1958Most Happy HammondCapitol T-1046LP
1959Jackie Davis Meets the TrombonesCapitol T-1180LP
1959Hammond Gone Cha-ChaCapitol T-1338LP
1960Tiger on the HammondCapitol T-1419LP
1960Hi-Fi Hammond, Vol. 2Capitol T-1517LP
1962Big Beat HammondCapitol T-1686LP
1963Easy Does ItWarner Bros. W-1492LP
1963Jackie Davis Plus VoicesWarner Bros. W-1515LPwith Sid Bass Chorus
196?Jackie Davis Plays The Park PlazaRCA Victor (Canada) PC-1061LP
196?Here's JackieKei-Mar Records JD-10701LP
1968The Sacred Side of Jackie DavisBrunswick BL-754143LP
197?Jackie Davis Entertains!Columbia (Canada) EL-112LP
197?The Jackie Davis StoryEMI 5C 052.81029LPreissue of Hi-Fi Hammond, Vol. 2
1980Jackie DavisEMI 1A 054.26474LP
2007Jackie DavisFonos LP-9410CDreissue

Compilations
YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1970The Best of Jackie DavisCapitol 5C 054.80309LP
1996Mambo Fever - Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2Capitol CDP 7243 8 32564 2 6CDvarious artists sampler features 2 tracks by Davis: "Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)" and "The Glow Worm".
1996Organs in Orbit - Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 11Capitol CDP 7243 8 37597 2 9CDvarious artists sampler features 2 tracks by Davis: "Love Is Just Around The Corner" and "Perfidia".
2001The Story of Jazz - Jackie DavisEMI 724357621526CD
2008Jumping Hi-Fi HammondJasmine JASCD 4722-CDreissues Hi-Fi Hammond, Chasing Shadows, Jumpin' Jackie, Most Happy Hammond
2016Jackie Davis: Five Classic AlbumsAvid EMSC 12022-CDreissues Jumpin' Jackie, Hammond Gone Cha-Cha, Jackie Davis Meets The Trombones, Tiger On The Hammond, Big Beat Hammond

As sideman
Rel.PerformerTitleLabelFormatNotes
1955Dinah WashingtonAfter Hours with Miss DEmarcy MG 36028LP, CD
1958Louis JordanMan We're Wailin'Mercury MG 20331LP
1978Ella FitzgeraldLady TimePablo 2310 825LP, CD

References
  1. Faragher, Scott (2011). The Hammond Organ : An introduction to the instrument and the players who made it famous. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 235–237. ISBN 978-1-4584-0287-5.
  2. Huey, Steve. "Jackie Davis – Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  3. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine (editors). All Music Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music. Backbeat Books. p. 305. ISBN 978-0-87930-717-2.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  4. Enstice, Wayne (2004). Jazzwomen: Conversations with Twenty-one Musicians, Volume 1. Indiana University Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-253-34436-6.
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