Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Edward Davis (March 2, 1922 - November 3, 1986), who performed and recorded… Read Full Bio ↴Edward Davis (March 2, 1922 - November 3, 1986), who performed and recorded as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
He played with Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, as well as leading his own bands and making many recordings as a leader. He played in the swing, bop, hard bop, Latin jazz, and soul jazz genres. Some of his recordings of the 1940s also could be classified as rhythm and blues.
In the 1950s, he played with Sonny Stitt and soul jazz with organist Shirley Scott, while from 1960 to 1962 he and fellow tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin led a quintet. From the mid-60s, Davis and Griffin also performed together as part of the Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Big Band, along with other, mainly European jazz musicians.
His playing influenced Harry Gibson profoundly. Famous for his habit of tossing the saxophone in the air and catching it on completion of a solo, he did this to show that he was a master of the instrument, not the other way round...
Possessor of a cutting and immediately identifiable tough tenor tone, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis could hold his own in a saxophone battle with anyone. Early on, he picked up experience playing with the bands of Cootie Williams (1942-1944), Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk (1945-1946), and Louis Armstrong. He began heading his own groups from 1946 and Davis' earliest recordings as a leader tended to be explosive R&B affairs with plenty of screaming from his horn; he matched wits successfully with Fats Navarro on one session. Davis was with Count Basie's Orchestra on several occasional (including 1952-1953, 1957, and 1964-1973) and teamed up with Shirley Scott's trio during 1955-1960. During 1960-1962, he collaborated in some exciting performances and recordings with Johnny Griffin, a fellow tenor who was just as combative as Davis. After temporarily retiring to become a booking agent (1963-1964), Davis rejoined Basie. In his later years, Lockjaw often recorded with Harry "Sweets" Edison and he remained a busy soloist up until his death. Through the decades, he recorded as a leader for many labels, including Savoy, Apollo, Roost, King, Roulette, Prestige/Jazzland/Moodsville, RCA, Storyville, MPS, Black & Blue, Spotlite, SteepleChase, Pablo, Muse, and Enja. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
He played with Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, as well as leading his own bands and making many recordings as a leader. He played in the swing, bop, hard bop, Latin jazz, and soul jazz genres. Some of his recordings of the 1940s also could be classified as rhythm and blues.
In the 1950s, he played with Sonny Stitt and soul jazz with organist Shirley Scott, while from 1960 to 1962 he and fellow tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin led a quintet. From the mid-60s, Davis and Griffin also performed together as part of the Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Big Band, along with other, mainly European jazz musicians.
His playing influenced Harry Gibson profoundly. Famous for his habit of tossing the saxophone in the air and catching it on completion of a solo, he did this to show that he was a master of the instrument, not the other way round...
Possessor of a cutting and immediately identifiable tough tenor tone, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis could hold his own in a saxophone battle with anyone. Early on, he picked up experience playing with the bands of Cootie Williams (1942-1944), Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk (1945-1946), and Louis Armstrong. He began heading his own groups from 1946 and Davis' earliest recordings as a leader tended to be explosive R&B affairs with plenty of screaming from his horn; he matched wits successfully with Fats Navarro on one session. Davis was with Count Basie's Orchestra on several occasional (including 1952-1953, 1957, and 1964-1973) and teamed up with Shirley Scott's trio during 1955-1960. During 1960-1962, he collaborated in some exciting performances and recordings with Johnny Griffin, a fellow tenor who was just as combative as Davis. After temporarily retiring to become a booking agent (1963-1964), Davis rejoined Basie. In his later years, Lockjaw often recorded with Harry "Sweets" Edison and he remained a busy soloist up until his death. Through the decades, he recorded as a leader for many labels, including Savoy, Apollo, Roost, King, Roulette, Prestige/Jazzland/Moodsville, RCA, Storyville, MPS, Black & Blue, Spotlite, SteepleChase, Pablo, Muse, and Enja. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Lyrics
A Gal In Calico Met a gal in calico, down in Santa Fe; Used to…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Body And Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
Ebb Tide First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the…
High Fry And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there…
I Cover the Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the on…
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Only Have Eyes For You My love must be a kind of blind love I can't…
I Surrender Dear Pride, sad, splendid liar, Sworn enemy of love Kept my…
I'll Never Be The Same I'll never be the same Stars have lost their meaning for…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodb…
I've Got A Crush On You How glad the many millions Of Annabelle's and Lilian's Wou…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Little White Lies The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
Love is Here to Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Old Devil Moon I look at you and suddenly Something in your eyes I…
On Green Dolphin Street It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened A…
Pennies from Heaven Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
Serenade In Blue When I hear that Serenade in blue I'm somewhere in another…
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away…
Star Eyes Star eyes, That to me is what your eyes are, Soft as…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sweet and Lovely Sweet and lovely Sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and l…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
The Shadow of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
There I'd like to get away, Junior Somewhere alone with you It c…
When Your Lover Has Gone What good is the scheming, the planning and dreaming That c…
You Are Too Beautiful You are too beautiful, my dear, to be true And I…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
You Stepped Out of a Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…