Charles Davis

While Charles Davis has prior experience on both tenor and alto saxophones, his reputation centers on skillful baritone work whether featured as a soloist or serving as a reliable presence within saxophone sections. Early gigs placed him alongside Sun Ra at intervals from 1954 through the 1980s, as well as Brother Jack McDuff, Ben Webster, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington between 1957 and 1958. Notice increased after he joined Kenny Dorham’s band from 1959 to 1962. Additional associations included Illinois Jacquet, Lionel Hampton, the Jazz Composers’ Orchestra from 1966 to 1976, Louis Hayes’ Sextet from 1972 to 1974, Clark Terry’s big band, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. During the 1980s he worked with Dameronia from 1981 to 1984, Philly Joe Jones, Barry Harris, and Abdullah Ibrahim. Davis has recorded as a leader for Strata-East, West 54, Nilva, Red, and L&R.