Arthur David Davis (December 5, 1934 – July 29, 2007) was a double-bassist, known for his work with Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner and Max Roach.

Biography

Davis was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, where he began studying the piano at the age of five, switched to tuba, and finally to bass while attending high school. He studied at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music but graduated from Hunter College. As a New York session musician, he recorded with many jazz and pop musicians and also in symphony orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic. He recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, and John Coltrane among other jazz musicians. Art Davis was a professor at Orange Coast College. Davis is also known for starting a legal case that led to blind auditions for orchestras. Davis earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University in 1982. He moved in 1986 to southern California, where he balanced his teaching and practicing of psychology with jazz performances. Davis died on July 29, 2007, following a heart attack. He was survived by two sons and a daughter.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Joe Albany With Gene Ammons With Count Basie With Art Blakey With John Coltrane With Buddy Emmons With Curtis Fuller With Dizzy Gillespie With Bunky Green With Al Grey With Eddie Harris With Freddie Hubbard With Hasaan Ibn Ali With Elvin Jones With Etta Jones With Quincy Jones With Clifford Jordan With Roland Kirk With Abbey Lincoln With Booker Little With Roberto Magris With Lee Morgan With Tisziji Munoz With Joe Newman With Dizzy Reece With Max Roach With Hilton Ruiz With Sal Salvador With Pharoah Sanders With Lalo Schifrin With Shirley Scott With Jack Teagarden With Clark Terry With McCoy Tyner With Leo Wright