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The Bassist: Homage to Diversity

Richard Davis (Bass)
1 disc

1. Come Sunday / Warm Valley
2. Simone
3. Estate (Summer)
4. Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, A
5. Eccles Sonata
6. Lift Every Voice and Sing
7. Go Down Moses
8. Little Benny
9. Skylark
10. C.C. Rider
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 2071
Credits

Producer
Engineer
Personnel: Richard Davis (vocals, acoustic bass); John Hicks (piano).
Includes liner notes by Lila Watson.
Master jazz bassist Richard Davis teams up with the esteemed John Hicks on piano for a round of sensitive duets. With a rapport that is truly rare, the two play music that spans genres from classical to bebop to spirituals and vintage blues. Davis is especially moving on Ellington's "Warm Valley" and Strayhorn's "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing," the latter sounding as though it were written specifically for bowed bass. Moving freely and elegantly between arco and pizzicato, Davis possesses a virtuosity that remains undimmed. His music takes him through a wide swath of emotional terrain, from the dead-serious mood of his unaccompanied "Go Down Moses" to the lighthearted spoken-word ending of "C.C. Rider." This, too, is a part of the "diversity" to which the album title refers. But one ought to read Davis' program notes to see just how expansively he's defining that word. ~ David R. Adler
Critic Reviews

CMJ (6/4/01, p.25) - "...His choice of material is as diverse as his resume....People unfamiliar with his work will likely be surprised at his amazing arco bow work, and he is equally lyrical when he plucks with his fingers..."
JazzTimes (4/2002, pp.83-84) - "...[Davis'] sound and sense always contribute materially to any musical environment....The subtitle...refers to the repertoire, the range of material and the people and concepts they represent..."