Jeffery Davis

Biography & Career

JEFFERY DAVIS WAS BORN IN CANADA IN 1981, AND MOVED TO PORTUGAL IN 1985. Vibraphonist, composer and educator, Jim Cooper (B.A., M.M.) has played vibes for over 30 years, leading numerous groups, appearing as both soloist and sideman. Originally from Chicago, Jim played piano and drums as a teenager and started playing the vibes during his early years a college student. Cooper was a major figure on the Chicago jazz scene in the 1980s, and 90s, with pianist/composer Bob Dogan. The Jim Cooper/Bob Dogan Quintet performed in many clubs, concerts and festivals including The Green Mill, Andys, The Jazz Showcase, the Chicago Jazz Fair, WBEZ-FMs Windy City Jazz Series and The Chicago Jazz Festival. Jim was also an original member of the Chicago Coalition Jazz Septet. As a Delmark Recording Artist in the early 1990s, Cooper gained recognition with his two CDs, Tough Town and Nutville. Both feature the legendary Ira Sullivan and both received favorable reviews from both Downbeat and Jazz Times magazines. After completing his Masters Degree in 1996, Jim was offered a three-month teaching position in Taiwan. Upon his return, he moved to West Michigan and discovered many performing and teaching opportunities. Since his move, hes performed at The Firefly, The Lansing, Suttons Bay, Allegan and Idlewild Jazz Festivals, and Bakers Keyboard Lounge, one of the oldest jazz clubs in the country. From 1996 Jim co-founded Lakeshore Jazz Connection, Inc., a non-profit organization that sponsors jazz concerts and workshops. He then became its Artistic Director in 1999 until its demise in 2009. Jim has had teaching experience at Lake Michigan College, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College and Central Michigan University. In 2003, Jim and his wife Gini founded Jazmyn Records and released Itchin' To Groove, which showcases Coopers compositions as well. All three of Jims CDs are available at www.cdbaby.com. During Jims career he has performed with Barrett Deems, Billy Brimfield, Wilbur Campbell, Gene Esposito, Jodie Christian, Bob Dogan, Art Van Damme, Paulinho Garcia, Harry Goldson, Jeff Haas, Paul Keller, Ira Sullivan, and The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra among others. He has performed at the Suttons Bay, Idlewild, Thornapple and Lansing Jazz Festivals. Though not exactly a household name, Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune wrote ...he played with a degree of subtlety and craft one does not often encounter in the work of performers far better known than he. His latest project, The Cooper, Hay, Van Lente Group has released their first CD, Trio Musik, on Big O records. Trio Musik features Cooper on vibes and marimba, Dave Hay on keyboards and Mike Van Lente on drums.In the year of 1996 he went to school in Escola Profissional de Musica de Espinho, where he studied with percussionists, Miguel Bernal, Pedro Carneiro Mario Teixeira, Joaquim Alves, and Paulo Oliveira. He finished music high school with the grade of 19 out of 20 in 1999. Also during this time he performed many concerts, with the school`s percussion group and symphony orchestra with whom he also played Ney Rosarios Concerto para Marimba e Orquestra touring Spain and playing this piece on the Spanish national radio. He also participates in many master classes with teachers like Ricardo Fernandez (Latin percussion), Kroumata Percussion Group (chamber music), Jesus Chapi (vibraphone), Emmanuel Sejourne (vibraphone) and Steve Schick (percussion). In the mid nineties he is admitted to Escola Superior de Musica e Artes do Espectaculo in the city of Oporto. During his attendance he studied with Miguel Bernat and Manuel Campos, plays many concerts with the schools percussion group and symphony orchestra as well various chamber music settings. During this time he also becomes a member of Drumming Percussion Group. Also during this time he takes private lessons and starts a long relationship with Jazz. With Drumming Percussion Group he plays many tours all over the world and premiers many pieces written for the group by composers like: Mario Laginha, Joao Pedro Oliveira, Emmanuel Nunes, Emmanuel Sejourne, Carlos Azevedo, Jesus Torres and others. In March of 2002 he wins a scholarship to attend the famous Berklee College of Music. In this year he also concludes his bachelor degree in classical percussion with the grade of twenty out of twenty. In January of 2003 he moves to Boston where he studies jazz vibes in Berklee College of Music, he graduates Summa Cum Laude in May of 2006. He is considered by his teachers to be the schools top vibe player. During his stay at Berklee he wins many awards, like: Most Active Vibe Player Award and Dean of Curriculum award for academic excellence. He is also awarded by the IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) for his Outstanding Musicianship. Also during this period he plays in many jazz festivals both as a sideman and a leader, festivals like: JVC jazz festival, North See Jazz Festival, Festival de Jazz Do Valado dos Frades, Festival de Jazz da Alta Estremadura, Festival de Jazz de Badajoz and more. During his stay in the US he had the opportunity to study and play with such musicians like: Hal Crook, Ed Saindon, Dave Samuels, Dave Liebman, Gary Burton, Joe Lovano, Phil Wilson, Terence Blanchard, Michel Camilo, Steve Swallow, Roswell Rudd, Alex Terrier and others. Here are some jazz projects that he is currently involved in: Jeffery Davis Quartet, Jeffery Davis Trio, Erro de Sintax Duo, Lift Off, Nova Blue Duet, Percussion trio with Pedro Carneiro and Alexandre Frazao, Davis Casagrande Duo, Tribute to Benny Goodman, and others. In 2009 his first cd as a leader Haunted Gardens recorded with the Quartet (Andre Fernandes- guitar, Nelson Cascais- Bass and Marcos Cavaleiro- Drums) came out and got excellent reviews. In the classical realm he is a part of: Vibes Marimba duo with Pedro Carneiro, Kinetix Duo with Fernando Ramos (Alto Sax), XL Trio with tuba player Sergio Carolino and piano player Telmo Marques. Most of the music played by these groups is music specially written for them. He also plays many solo vibraphone recitals throughout Portugal and Europe, playing pieces that he commissioned from composers like: Filipe Vieira, Andreia Pinto Correia, Nuno Costa, Oscar Grac?a to name a few. Jeffery Davis also works extensively as a classical composer having written pieces for projects like: Kinetix Duo, XL Trio, Drumming Percussion Group, Quad Quartet, Pedro Carneiro/Jeffery Davis Duo and Romeu Costa. Currently you may hear Jeffery Davis on the following recordings: Haunted Gardens- Jeffery Davis Quartet- TOAP 2009 Jazz Revelation Records- Rhetoric- Berklee 2006 Stop Requested-Alex Terrier-Calypso 2006 Depois de Alguma Coisa- Gonc?alo Prazeres AE 2010 Xinti- Sara Tavares- Universal 2009 Amoras e Framboesas- Maria Joao and Orquestra de Jazz de Matosinhos- Universal 2011 Live in Teatro Aveirense- Quad Quartet- AE to come out in 2011-05-19 The Music of Toru Takemitsu- Pedro Carneiro- AE to come out Tribute to Benny Goodman-Paulo Gaspar Quintet- Numerica to come out in mid 2012 Jeffery Davis is also very active as a teacher. He is head of the Jazz Vibraphone Department at Escola Superior de Musica in Oporto, where students come from all over Europe to get their bachelor and masters degree in jazz vibes. And also teaches in the Professional Courses in Conservatorio de Musica da Jobra in Albergaria. His book on Vibraphone Technique will be published in late 2012 or early 2013.