Steve Davis

Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. Davis has worked with numerous jazz luminaries such as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove, and Chick Corea with whom he won a Grammy Award for the album “Antidote” as a member of Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band. Steve’s many notable performances include The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with Stevie Wonder and The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). In addition to over 20 recordings as a leader, Steve has been a stalwart member of several critically acclaimed ensembles including Benny Golson’s New Jazztet, the collectively led New York-based sextet One for All, the Larry Willis Quintet, to name a few. Steve has been a steady member of big bands led by Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, John Lee & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, and Christian McBride. Steve’s original composition, “Optimism” appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release “Bringin’ It.”  Davis appears on nearly 200 recordings, including 22 as a leader.  His new 2024 release “We See” (Smoke Sessions) features Steve in a live setting with a stellar lineup that includes Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet and Lewis Nash. The album has received extensive critical acclaim. Davis also collaborates with his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis, appearing on her debut recording “Where Is Love” (WJ3) which also features Steve’s son, guitarist Tony Davis.  A highly regarded educator, Steve has guided generations of emerging musicians including a 31 year tenure at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute, University of Hartford, CT where he was honored with the 2023 Alumni of the Year Award. He has been a regular faculty member at Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, UMASS Jazz In July, Stanford Jazz Workshop and Skidmore Jazz Institute.  Davis currently serves as Professor of Trombone at Berklee College of Music.