Quincy Davis (musician)

Davis grew up in a musical family in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His brother is pianist Xavier Davis. He often played with his brother in their home. In grade school, he also picked up the trumpet and tuba. Near the end of his high school career, he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in northern Michigan. There he played jazz in a group setting and studied classical percussion and trap-set drumming.

After graduating from Interlochen, Davis attended Western Michigan University, where he studied with Billy Hart. He also developed his composition skills there. Often, he would drive to Ann Arbor and perform at clubs with guitarist Randy Napoleon. Davis graduated in 1999 and moved to New York City a year later.

Within a week of moving, he began playing at Cleopatra's Needle in Manhattan and became the house drummer for Friday sessions. He has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Frank Wess, Russell Malone, Eric Reed, Cyrus Chestnut, Paquito D'Rivera, Lew Tabackin, Marcus Printup, Warren Vache, Ron Blake, Jon Faddis, Stefon Harris, Peter Bernstein, Roy Hargrove, Paula West, Nicholas Payton, New York Voices, Ryan Kisor, Regina Carter, and Wessell Anderson.[2]

In March 2001, Davis began touring with trumpeter Tom Harrell. Davis has played throughout the world in such clubs as the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note in New York City, the Jazz Showcase in Chicago and Paris, New Morning Jazz Club, the Jazz Bakery, Yoshi's, and Catalina Bar and Grill in California.

In 2010, Davis moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as a faculty member of the jazz studies program at the University of Manitoba led by Steve Kirby.[3] Other noted faculty included tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene, and pianist George Colligan.[4]

After leaving Manitoba, he became a teacher at the University of North Texas. His debut album, Songs in the Key of Q, was released in 2014.[5]

• Winnipeg Free Press article