Troy Davis

The drummer for hard bop trumpet player, Terence Blanchard, since the early-1990s, Troy Davis has recorded with Toots Thielmans, Jubliant Sykes, Raful Neal, Robert Moore, Marlon Jordan and the late Marvin Gaye. He collaborated with Kingston, Jamaica-born pianist Monty Alexander and Brooklyn-born bassist John Pattitcci on an album, Echoes Of Gilley's, that paid tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra in 1996. Davis's playing can be heard on the soundtracks of such films as Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Crooklyn and Four Little Girls. Playing drums from the age of three, Davis studied under New Orleans-born clarinet player Alvin Batiste at Baton Rouge's Southern University. Moving to New York in 1986, he spent two and a half years with Betty Carter's band. Touring with Blanchard, Mark Whitfield, Marlon Jordan and Roy Hargrove in 1990, Davis's polyrhythms fueled Blanchard's self-titled debut solo album. Davis continues to work with Blanchard on recordings and special performances including Jazz at Lincoln Center in late-1993 and tours of Europe and Canada in 1994 and Latin America in 1994 and 1995. Davis has toured with Monty Alexander since early 1995. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide