| Artist | Jesse Davis |
|---|---|
| Cover | First Insight.jpg |
| Released | 1998 |
| Recorded | September 1997 |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Label | Concord Jazz |
| Producer | John Burk |
| Prev year | 1996 |
| Next year | 2002 |
First Insight is an album by the American saxophonist Jesse Davis, released in 1998.[1][2] It was his sixth album for Concord Jazz.[3] Davis supported it with a North American tour.[4]
Production
Davis composed all of the album's songs; he tried to reflect on what made his sound unique.[5][6] He was chiefly influenced by the playing of Sonny Stitt and Charlie Parker.[7] Davis was backed by Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Peter Bernstein on guitar, and Kenny Washington on drums.[8] The title track was influenced by the book The Celestine Prophecy.[5] "Nola" was written as a tribute to Davis's hometown.[9] "Midnight Blue" is an homage to Thelonious Monk.[4] "B.Y.O.G." is played in 7/4 time.[8] Davis sang on "A Funny Thing".[5]
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune said, "Though the man's searing, blues-drenched playing alone would recommend First Insight, the stylistic variety of the compositions and the ingenuity of Davis's arrangements make this recording a tour de force."[10] The Hartford Courant noted that the "zesty compositional variety accentuates the session's soloing strengths."[9] The Washington Post compared Davis to Cannonball Adderley and concluded that "no one is carrying on [his] legacy more effectively today than [Davis]... His new album is filled with the pleasures of swinging, robust blues."[5] LA Weekly opined that Davis "can play circles around" James Carter, Joshua Redman, and "some of the Marsalis cronies".[11]
Jazziz stated, "Davis's alto sound—at turns throaty and reedy then pure and clean—and the narratives of his nine fine compositions on the new disc are the work of a man not just conversant, but capable of meaningful dialogue."[12] The Irish Times said that Davis's "playing, though derivative, has reached a depth and inventiveness beyond anything he has previously recorded".[13] The Toronto Star admired the "keen, resourceful awareness of melody and spare phrasing."[14] The Guardian noted that, "unlike many contemporaries thrust into the leadership role, [Davis] invents tunes that are rather more than exercises."[15]
References
- ^ Spore, Keith (May 27, 1998). "More from the sax section". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Jazz. 3rd ed. Rough Guides. 2004. p. 197.
- ^ Blangger, Tim (July 11, 1998). "Disc Reviews". The Morning Call. p. A53.
- ^ Reich, Howard (July 16, 1998). "Alto Insight". Chicago Tribune. p. 2.
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (May 8, 1998). "Jesse Davis: 'First Insight'". The Washington Post. p. 24.
- ^ Vega, Lazaro (February 12, 1999). "Carrying a tradition". The Grand Rapids Press. Vol. 106. p. 9.
- ^ Bellamy, Cliff (May 8, 1998). "Jazz". The Herald-Sun. p. 5.
- ^ Andrews, Marke (July 18, 1998). "Jazz/Blues". The Vancouver Sun. p. H9.
- ^ McNally, Owen (May 7, 1998). "First Insight – Jesse Davis". Hartford Courant. p. 7.
- ^ Reich, Howard (April 5, 1998). "Jesse Davis". Chicago Tribune. p. 18.
- ^ Kohlhaase, Bill (August 13, 1998). "Jazz Picks of the Week". LA Weekly. p. 139.
- ^ Blumenfeld, Larry (July 1998). "Digging jazz from the bottom up". Jazziz. Vol. 15, no. 7. p. 19.
- ^ Comiskey, Ray (July 3, 1998). "Jazz". The Irish Times. p. 12.
- ^ Chapman, Geoff (July 18, 1998). "Jesse Davis First Insight". Toronto Star. p. 1.
- ^ Atkins, Ronald (August 21, 1998). "Music: This week's jazz cd releases". The Guardian. p. TO26.