Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
A year before his death in 1986, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis was in Copenhagen on tour with a quartet. For those unfamiliar with "Lockjaw" (or "Jaws"), the tenor saxophonist was a spectacular soloist dating back to the '40s, when his gruff, pushy style was admired and adopted by R&B honkers. Originally an East Coast bebopper, "Lockjaw" recorded many small-group albums in the '50s with organists and with saxophonist Johnny Griffin. But "Jaws" was always most at home soloing in front of a swinging big band, particularly Count Basie's in the late '50s and into the '60s and beyond.
What I've always loved about "Lockjaw's" playing is his biting aggression and aesthetic cockiness. Whether carrying his saxophone like a toy in one hand to the front of a stage for a solo or resting its shiny neck on his shoulder, "Lockjaw" in person exuded a level of cool that wasn't generally found in jazz, and his driving solos always exceeded his brazen showmanship.
Even at age 63, with just months left to live, "Lockjaw" put on a quite show in Denmark. Here are six clips from that gig featuring Niels Jørgen Steen on piano, Jesper Lundgaard on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums...
Read more: http://www.jazzwax.com/2013/07/eddie-lockjaw-davis-1985.html
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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