Showing posts with label Evan Oberla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evan Oberla. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Billie Davies Trio: Perspectives II By Jerome Wilson


Billie Davies Trio: Perspectives II
By JEROME WILSON
December 17, 2018

The spiritual jazz tradition, as exemplified by John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, has been having a resurgence over the past few years in places like Los Angeles and Great Britain. Now here is evidence that some musicians in New Orleans are going down that path as well. Billie Davies is a drummer from Belgium who now lives and works in the Big Easy and this recording, available only in download form, captures a live performance of her trio, plus added guests, creating over an hour of heady, uplifting music.

Most tracks build slowly. "Nature" starts with lonely flute trills by Ari Kohn and sparse electric piano notes from Evan Oberla that slowly coalesce into a wavy tropical rhythm. Craggy, harp-like piano and the soothing voices of Allie Porter and Iris P weave in and out of each other while Davies and bassist Oliver Watkinson maintain a light, rolling undercurrent that keeps the music buoyant. "Life" continues in the same manner with the vocalists talking and singing aphorisms like "Don't be afraid to be be who you are" and "Have no fear to live passionately" as Davies and the band cruise through mesmerizing grooves. "Happiness" changes the overall sound as Kohn switches to baritone sax and Oberla moves to trombone. Both start by moaning long notes over the bass and drums but eventually the four players become a crisp, punchy ensemble that works its way into a lurching Caribbean groove.

The tracks "Love" and "Freedom" bring synthesizers into play. The first is a shorter breeze of springy synthesizer sounds embellished by flute and the rhythm section while the vocalists gently sing about love while on "Freedom" buzzy synth sounds are tossed around with baritone, drums and bass in a turbulent, rock-flavored stew. These two tracks, in particular, resemble some of Sun Ra's more scaled down recordings where Pat Patrick's baritone sax and June Tyson's voice dueled with Ra's keyboard eruptions.

"Art" starts out with a free improv trio of flute, synthesizer and drums. Then electric piano and bass come in to build melody, Porter and Iris P dialog about art and the music morphs into a spell of swinging cool jazz led by flute and trombone as the women spin out poetry like they were in a Beat-era coffeehouse. Finally "Rhythm" is just what it says, a careening synth and baritone avalanche that quickly turns into a rolling, up-tempo jam that nods in the directions of hip hop and dub. Oberla swoops and burns on the electric keyboards, Watkinson walks furiously and Davies leads from the back, constantly switching the tempo and feel with little seeming effort.

This music never stays in one place for long, progressing naturally through straight jazz, jazz-rock, free jazz and other sub-genres, with the voices of Allie and Iris P dramatically shouting or sensually cooing as the mood dictates. This is a loose, free-flowing concoction not quite like anything else out there. Like the best forward-thinking music, Billie Davies' work reminds you of many different things but in the end, it is its own original beast, as powerful as anything more well-known musicians have created this year.


Track Listing: Nature; Life; Happiness; Love; Freedom; Art; Rhythm.

Personnel: Billie Davies: drums; Evan Oberla: piano, keyboards, trombone; Oliver Watkinson: bass; Ari Kohn: woodwinds; Iris P, Alie Porter: vocals.

Title: Perspectives II | Year Released: 2018 

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Billie Davies Perspectives ~ A Gathering - A 3 month residency at the Art Klub in New Orleans.


BILLIE DAVIES Trio presents PERSPECTIVES ~ a Gathering

Billie Davies Perspectives ~ A Gathering 

Who: Billie Davies Trio

What: Billie Davies Perspectives ~ A Gathering

When: Every Sunday, 8:00pm-11:00pm

Starting: OCTOBER 21, 2018

Ending: JANUARY 13, 2019

Where: Art Klub, 1941 Arts St., New Orleans

Why: Billie Davies Perspectives ~ A Gathering is a once a week open to the public music exploration during her 3 month residency at the Art Klub, within the perspective of "fine art" - while at the same time it being an informal, happy-go-lucky, relaxing musical gathering full of love and peace.

How Much: $10 at the door. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds at Art Klub.

Billie Davies Perspectives ~ A Gathering


Every Sunday, from October 21 until January 13, join the BILLIE DAVIES Trio as they explore music within a perspective of "fine art". Each Sunday night will showcase Billie Davies on drums, Evan Oberla on piano, keys and trombone, Oliver Watkinson on bass and feature Iris P. on vocals. Invited guests will jump into the mix and play alongside the trio, keeping the evening informal, happy-go-lucky, relaxing and full of love and peace.

About the artist



The music of BILLIE DAVIES Trio, A Nu Experience and other quartet, quintet and sextet line-ups, moves on from the Jazz and Avant-garde jazz world beyond Jazz with it's own unique and truly improvisational style.

While living and playing in the South of France in 1984, Billie received a talent grant from Max Roach to study at Berklee College of Music. She made a permanent move to the US in December of 1986 for the sake of her explorations in Jazz. 
Her 2012 release of “all about Love” solidified her position as a professional jazz musician. This recording of standards and original music, charted #1 in CMJ Jazz College Radio Charts for ‘top jazz add’ in new albums and went on to stay in the top 20 for 4 weeks. Also well received in Canada, the album ended up in the Top 10 on three different !Earshot Jazz charts.
In October, 2013 Billie released “12 VOLT” which garnered national and international attention. CJ Bond, JAZZ MUSIC, wrote, “12 VOLT” features exclusively original compositions of Billie Davies, and adds the crucial tyne of 'composer/arranger' to her sterling artistic fork, augmenting fearless innovation. Jan Hocek of His Voice in Prague wrote:”Without hesitation - HIGH VOLTAGE avant-garde JAZZ - one of the most remarkable trio albums of the year!" In 2013 Billie Davies received the "Jazz Artist of the Year" Award by the 23rd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.
In March of 2014 she moved to New Orleans where she has graced stages ever since and where she recorded her album "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" in 2015. She received more national and international attention due to a player feature in Downbeat Magazine May 2016 edition, "BILLIE DAVIES '20 Years Stronger'".
"On Hollywood Boulevard", her CD released in 12/10/2016 became a January 2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com. It also started solidifying the coming of a new Billie Davies Trio with Evan Oberla on piano, el. keys and trombone and Oliver Watkinson on bass while featuring the vocals of Iris P who brought the words written by Billie to the stage.
In December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans by OffBeat Magazine.
September 2018 was the first officially released recording of the new Billie Davies Trio, Perspectives II, featuring Ari Kohn, woodwinds, Iris P, vocals and Allie Porter, vocals.


Sunday, September 30, 2018

Announcing The Independent Release Of "PERSPECTIVES II" By Billie Davies Trio on BandCamp.


“PERSPECTIVES II”


applemusic LIVE LINK | Deezer LIVE LINK | iTunes LIVE LINK | Spotify LIVE LINK

Happy to announce the new release by Billie Davies trio, “PERSPECTIVES II”, on BandCamp today, September 27, 2018.

An all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words by Billie Davies and 7 chakra musical keys, expressed by:
BILLIE DAVIES trio Billie Davies - drums, Evan Oberla - piano/keys/trombone, Oliver Watkinson - bass, featuring: Ari Kohn - woodwinds, Iris P - vocals, Allie Porter - vocals, Lyrics by Billie Davies

Perspectives that affect all human beings, regardless of race, nationality, culture, gender, creed, religion, politics, social status and personhood.
Abstract Expressionist Improvisations
Neither confused by the light
Nor blinded by dogma, color or political correctness

An ever evolving improvisation, a message to raise the awareness of life and living, love and loving from a deeply natural, instinctive perspective, so people start to listen to their heart, to feel their soul, without fear, wholly responsible for every action taken, and in doing so feel truly happy and fulfilled in harmony with mother nature.
A symphony to mother nature, to the tree of life and people. One big conversation where each artist responds to another artist’s call, where each and every action taken is in response to another, all being influenced by each other, all being one and one with mother nature.
Musicians expressing through sound, vocalists through words and in the video dancers through movement, all expressing perspectives of Nature, Life, Happiness, Love, Freedom, Art and Rhythm.

“PERSPECTIVES II”


applemusic LIVE LINK | Deezer LIVE LINK | iTunes LIVE LINK | Spotify LIVE LINK


live recorded for sound and video at: Art Klub, New Orleans LA 
live recording date: June 1, 2018, 8 - 10 pm 
audio recording, mixing, mastering: Mike Davies 
video recording and post production: Marion Hill 

tracks 
Nature - 11:36 , Life - 06:13 , Happiness - 07:15 , Love - 07:15 
Freedom - 16:47 , Art - 13:37 , Rhythm - 14:45 

lyrics: Billie Davies 
release date: September 27 

Contact for Press, reviews, interviews: 

Billie Davies 
New Orleans, LA 
Tel: (+1) 310.467.2061 Email: Billie@BillieDavies.com Website: http://www.BillieDaviesJazz.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

BILLIE DAVIES "PERSPECTIVES II" at the ART KLUB Theater in New Orleans


BILLIE DAVIES


"PERSPECTIVES II PHOTOS"


BILLIE DAVIES trio: Billie Davies - drums | Evan Oberla - piano/keys/trombone | Oliver Watkinson - bass
Featuring: Ari Kohn - reeds | Iris P - vocals | Allie Porter - vocals
Dance by: Artivism Dance Theatre - dance improvisation featuring Elle Ciccarone Jones and Briana Alston.
Venue: Art Klub - Theater, 1941 Arts Street, New Orleans LA 70117




In anticipation of the upcoming video/audio release of "Perspectives II" here are some screenshots / photos of the Live video/audio recording session ...











"PERSPECTIVES II" continues an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and 7 chakra musical keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys, baritone sax / flute, bass and drums, vocals / spoken word by 2 female vocalists and 2 female dancers.










Perspectives that affect all human beings, regardless of race, nationality, culture, gender, creed, religion, politics, social status and personhood.








Abstract Expressionist Improvisations

Neither confused by the light

Nor blinded by dogma, color or political correctness

Music by the BILLIE DAVIES trio

Thinking of Marie Laveau (Billie Davies trio)


On Hollywood Boulevard 1 (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) - BILLIE DAVIES - A Nu Experience - On Hollywood Boulevard


Palm Trees (Billie Davies) - BILLIE DAVIES - A Nu Experience - On Hollywood Boulevard -







Press

"Billie Davies ... plays her own music. Freedom and expression. These are the things that matter most to Billie Davies, who has used the drums for more than 40 years now. For Davies, seeking freedom is a purpose, a way of life. It stems from her days among bohemian communities in southern France, living in a DIY RV and playing music in the streets, where she shaped her chops early on, playing by herself or along manouche and blues musicians." — Noe Cugny, OffBeat, Jul 2, 2018


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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Watch: Live Spontaneous Improvisation From Billie Davies Trio & More

Watch: Live Spontaneous Improvisation From Billie Davies Trio & More: The latest live performance video from the Billie Davies trio is an all-spontaneous improvisation with a piano, reeds, bass, drums and spoken word.

Free MP3: "Palm Trees" by Billie Davies

Free MP3: "Palm Trees" by Billie Davies: Track of the Day: “Palm Trees” by Billie Davies (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson, Iris P). Search thousands jazz tracks at All About Jazz

Friday, February 16, 2018

BILLIE DAVIES trio (Davies - Oberla - Watkinson) announcing their new project "PERSPECTIVES"


BILLIE DAVIES trio
(Davies - Oberla - Watkinson)
announcing their new project
"PERSPECTIVES"

View de 2nd evolution from the Full Blood Moon concert on January 31, 2017 below...
BILLIE DAVIES trio "PERSPECTIVES I" Live @ The New Orleans Jazz Museum




(-: #billiedaviestrio, #bloodmoon, #fullbloodmoon, #fullmoon :-)


“PERSPECTIVES I” by Billie Davies

music
Billie Davies - drums, Evan Oberla - piano, Oliver Watkinson - bass.
Ari Kohn - reeds (2nd and 3rd evolu
tion)

spoken word
Allie Porter - vocals (2nd and 3rd evolution)
Iris P - vocals (3rd evolution)

dance
Artivism Dance Group - dance improvisation (3rd evolution)


“PERSPECTIVES” is an all spontaneous improvisation, with a trio of piano, bass and drums (which might change into a quartet or quintet through the 3 evolutions), 
spoken word by female vocalist(s) in the 2nd and 3rd evolution and 3 dancers (female: referring to mother earth) in the 3rd evolution of the project.


True improvisational music of an Abstract Expressionist nature

An improvisation that will evolve through 3 evolutions, through repetition, minimal rehearsal and major performance and that will bring a message to raise the awareness of Life and living, Love and loving, in a deeply natural, subconsciously conscious perspective, so people start to listen to their heart again, to feel their soul again, without dogma, without fear, wholly responsible for every action taken, and in doing so feel truly happy and fulfilled again.

The musicians will express through sound, the vocalist(s) through words, the dancers through movement, all influenced by 7 perspectives.

An ode to the tree of life and people. One big conversation where each artist responds to another artist’s call, where each and every action taken is in response to another, all being influenced by each other, all being one and one with mother nature. 

tracks

1. Nature (Be Connected Wholly With Nature, With Yourself)

2. Life (Live As If Life Were New And Original)

3. Happiness (The Most Powerful Energy We Have Is Love)

4. Love (The Most Powerful Energy We Have Is Love)

5. Individualism (Express Everything That Is Alive Within You)

6. Art (Open Yourself To Universal Creative Energy)

7. Rhythm (Accept That Life Is Good)

"I feel that nothing we did, and everything we have done, in the past, relates or evolves into being what “PERSPECTIVES" could be because I see it as a spontaneous in the moment expression, without any pre-conceived ideas, without any music written down ... as if we started playing our instrument for the first time, as if this is the first time music gets played. A blank canvas, each and every time, so to speak."

LOUD AND CLEAR
It is my roots, answering, calling, and continuing the Mission of liberating the notes to be free and the sounds to be re-invented, re-explored, so that others will hear and see and feel the ROOTS.

So that others may IDENTIFY with it. As I Do.

So that this extremely FREE, Heart Beating, Soul Searching, Mind Bending form of FINE ART through the medium of MUSIC... be still here

after I am gone...

UNCONSTRAINED by color, race, gender, dogma, politics, fashion and trends and money.

LOUD AND CLEAR (Billie Davies)

"All of my music is improvisational... a conversation between musicians and musical instruments. A joint emotional expression inspired by a certain common feeling, thought or perspective in an instinctual, unpredictable, freely expressed improvisation exploring authentic feelings and inspirations that is being communicated to an audience, a listener, a community." - Billie Davies


video info
L to R: Evan Oberla - piano, Ari Kohn - reeds, Oliver Watkinson - upright bass, Allie Porter - spoken word, Billie Davies - drums.
Sound & Video recording: Joe Stolarick at The New Orleans Jazz Museum, Music At The Mint.
Sound Mix and Post Production: Mike Davies, Billie Davies
Logistics: Mike Davies
Photography: Mike Davies

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

BILLIE DAVIES trio "PERSPECTIVES" Live @ The New Orleans Jazz Museum January 31, 2017.


View de 2nd evolution from the Full Blood Moon concert on January 31, 2017 below...

BILLIE DAVIES trio "PERSPECTIVES" Live @ The New Orleans Jazz Museum




(-: #billiedaviestrio, #bloodmoon, #fullbloodmoon, #fullmoon :-)



video info
L to R: Evan Oberla - piano, Ari Kohn - reeds, Oliver Watkinson - upright bass, Allie Porter - spoken word, Billie Davies - drums.
Sound & Video recording: Joe Stolarick at The New Orleans Jazz Museum, Music At The Mint.
Sound Mix and Post Production: Mike Davies, Billie Davies
Logistics: Mike Davies
Photography: Mike Davies