Kris Davis

Kris Davis (born 1980) is a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.

Early life

Davis was born in Vancouver in 1980 and grew up in Calgary, Alberta.^[1] She studied classical piano from the age of six^[1] and discovered jazz while a high school student.^[2] She transcribed performances by pianists Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett.^[2] She later reported that, "By the eighth grade I knew I wanted to be a jazz musician."^[1] She later majored in jazz piano at the University of Toronto.^[1][2]

Later life and career

Davis moved to New York in 2001.^[2] Her piano style changed after her first album, Lifespan – "I decided not to play chords anymore, just to play lines".^[2] She later obtained a classical composition degree from the City College of New York.^[2]

In 2009, Davis played solo concerts during a tour of Portugal.^[2] She followed this with a solo piano album, Aeriol Piano,^[2] which included sections for prepared piano.^[3] Her 2014 trio album Waiting for You to Grow was the follow-up to Good Citizen around five years earlier.^[1] She commented that, on the earlier release, "I had this concept to make it almost like a pop record, where the tunes are really short [while] on the new record the tunes are much longer and explore multiple areas. I just wanted to write and not have any preconceived ideas".^[1]

In 2013, Davis composed a suite for four bass clarinets, guitar, piano, organ and drums.^[3] In 2014, Davis had a six-day residency at The Stone in New York City,^[1] and played in the UK for the first time.^[4]

Personal life

Davis was formerly married to the drummer Jeff Davis.^[2] She married guitarist Nate Radley in 2012 and they had a son in 2013.^[1]

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader/co-leader

As sidewoman

References