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Walter Davis Jr. On Piano Jazz

NPR

Published September 2, 2016 at 1:07 PM EDT

Walter Davis, Jr., on the cover of <em>Davis Cup</em>. — Walter Davis, Jr., on the cover of *Davis Cup*.

Pianist Walter Davis Jr. (1932–1990) spent more than four decades contributing to the development of jazz history. He worked with a wide variety of talent, including Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Shortly after sitting down with Marian McPartland for a 1990 Piano Jazz session, this giant in the jazz world passed away.

One of the great bebop stylists of his time, Davis plays his composition "Backgammon" and joins McPartland for "Blue Monk" in tribute to one of his main influences.

Originally broadcast in the fall of 1990.

Set List

"Backgammon" (Davis)

"Love" (Ellington)

"Zany" (Davis)

"Body And Soul" (Green, Heyman)

"Scratchin' In The Gravel" (Williams)

"Scorpio Rising" (Davis)

"Blue Monk" (Monk)