Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

"Whadeva", an album with Damani Butler, Maude Caillat, Billie Davies and produced by Billie & Mike Davies, release date set for July 24, 2020.

Whadeva, Whadeva Live, an album by Damani Butler, Maude Caillat and Billie Davies

"Whadeva"

It had not reached New Orleans yet, or so they thought.


They had been prepping these recordings since late December, early January. Damani Butler contacted Billie Davies and Maude Caillat asking them whether they would be interested in doing a project with him. He also mentioned he had contacted female artists for this project. Both Billie Davies, an american drummer from California, and Maude Caillat, a sax player from Switzerland, were currently working and residing in New Orleans. Damani had rented a house in the Lower Ninth Ward, which became Dangerous Art Studios, and was busy transforming it into the whole house and whatever sounds in it, showed in it and whomever entered it, being part of a work of art he was creating.

The project would be experimental, completely improvisational audio art. Intuitive, instinctive in nature Damani would be doing his electronic loops, beats and waves while Caillat and Davies played whatever they played. Billie decided to use her electronic drumset and Maude would bring her sax and flute to the project. Mike Davies would be recording the project, and be responsible for mixing and mastering the music that was recorded live on 02/13/2020 for a later unedited release of what was played that evening.

This was definitely so very much a Billie Davies project, always wanting to create, no preconceived ideas for the music, no notes written, no words written, no concept conceived but what you’re surrounded by, play what you feel at this moment, express your feelings as the now keeps moving forward in the now, whatever happens, a direct connection from the brain to the sound, whatever comes up, whatever makes you move in whatever direction.

Damani Butler was in his room, surrounded by a hundred pieces of all kinds of audio equipment, from keyboards to synthesizers, to percussion, to whatever. Maude Caillat was in her room, with her woodwinds and a microphone to record it surrounded by several pieces of Damani’s electronic art. Billie Davies was in her room, her electronic drums that can produce what she calls whatever a drum or percussion sound with sometimes even an organ or bass or guitar sound, and a light show for the mood. All the rooms throughout the house had serious wattage stereo speakers so everyone would hear what everyone else played and wherever the people that attended the recording were they could hear all of it come through speakers. Several people showed up, gathering in the kitchen where there was wine, beer, whiskey and coffee and whatever they brought.

Whadeva, Whadeva Live (Butler, Caillat, Davies)

All the music for "Whadeva" was recorded during the Coronavirus outbreak with a final recording date of February 13. It had not reached New Orleans yet, or so we thought, with mardi-gras slowly but surely going into full swing. All we knew was what we heard and read and saw, which then made me think... and we all got sick with some type of flu. A month later we were all on lockdown and now it is time to let go, to let this music go.

The project will be having different iterations, the first iteration, this current release of 6 parts being the album “ Whadeva ” and 1 single release called “ The Ninja ” has been produced by Mike Davies and Billie Davies.

A Damani Butler project. Recorded at Dangerous Art Studios on 02/13/2020 in New Orleans. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Mike Davies at Cobra Basement. Produced by Mike and Billie Davies at Cobra Basement. Copyright 2020, Dangerous Art Studios, Cobra Basement, Damani Butler, Maude Caillat, Billie Davies, Mike Davies.
The Musicians

Damani Butler Electronics, loops, beats, waves.

Damani is an experimental, multi/mixed media artist, lyricist and music producer from Oakland, California now living in New Orleans, Louisiana, specializing in interactive audio, visual and physical object art with a focus on up-cycled electronics and unique furniture. He has spent the last 25 + years informally training and educating himself in all areas of creative and technical interest, developing and evolving his skill-set by way of volunteering for skilled professionals in exchange for knowledge and guidance, watching instructional videos, attending workshops and training programs, reading and studying books, manuals, instructions and other literature on all subjects relative, watching and asking questions as well as good, old fashioned DIY practice, trial and error. He has independently completed a library of works in the fields of art, experimental music and lyricism often combining the three as he feels.

His accomplishments include audio productions in the genres of underground hip hop, experimental electronic music, audio art, sound experimentation projects and even coining and naming his own genre, "Crack Rock". Short and medium length video productions in the categories of music video, installation and project documentation/presentation, video art and he’s presently working on a documentary called "Adventures in Art and Music"

Maude Caillat Woodwinds, alto sax, flute

Maude Caillat grew up in Switzerland where her dad taught her to read music and play wood flute transmitting his passion for music to her when she was 5 years old. At 18, the call for different sonorities and rhythms became so strong that she decided to take a backpack and her saxophone in the direction of Senegal. After 6 years living in Dakar she developed a special sensibility and true love for traditional Senegalese and Mandingo music playing with pretty much everybody in town. In 2010 Maude was part of the band who won the RFI award for the best emerging African band. After a 3 month tour around Africa, Maude, her backpack and her saxophone ended up in Paris. While playing and recording there with several African musicians based in France, it's with Tarace Boulba, a gigantic funk and Gogo brass band touring all around Europe and the USA, that Maude discovered the music and the culture from New Orleans. After 6 years in France, once again the call of the “riddim” became too strong and she decided to take a plane to Louisiana. In New Orleans, Maude formed 2 bands, The Afrodiziac's Jazz (Ethiopian Jazz ) and SingleMaltPlease (hip hop jazz). She had the chance to collaborate with a lot of extremely talented local musicians and even played 2 times at the Jazz Fest with Seguenon Kone, a master percussionist and choreographer from the Ivory Coast. Through the years she discovered a huge interest in playing free jazz, experimental and improvisational music, an interest which grew more and more and brought her to meet Billie Davies who's the perfect "partner in crime" with her magic influences and rhythms to make it sound whatever... Whadeva ...

Billie Davies Electronic drums

Billie Davies is an American, self-taught, natural, drummer and composer best known for her free, instinctively avant-garde compositions since the mid nineties, and her improvisational drumming techniques she has performed in Europe and in the US. All of her music is improvisational ... a conversation between musicians and musical instruments, a joint emotional expression inspired by a certain feeling, thought or perspective that is being communicated to an audience, a listener, a community.

Billie Davies was born in Brugge, Belgium. She played and performed all over Europe until immigrating to the United States at 32 and becoming a US citizen while living in California. While living and playing in the South of France, in Perpignan, Montpellier, Toulouse and Biarritz, in the early 1980's, Billie received a talent grant from Max Roach to study at Berklee College of Music. While living in Hollywood on the infamous Hollywood Boulevard in 2013, Billie Davies received the "Jazz Artist of the Year" Award by the 23rd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. In March of 2014, after 25 years in California where she released 2 albums, in 2012 “ all about Love. ” and in 2013 “ 12 VOLT ”, she moved to New Orleans where she has graced stages ever since and in 2015 she released “ Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon ”, after a while she formed a solid foundation line-up with Evan Oberla and Oliver Watkinson and released 2 albums with them, in 2016 “ On Hollywood Boulevard ” and in 2018 “ Perspectives II ”. She received more attention due to a player feature in Downbeat Magazine May 2016 edition, "BILLIE DAVIES '20 Years Stronger'". " On Hollywood Boulevard ", the album she released on 12/10/2016, became a January 2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com. December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans by 2017 Best Of The Beat Awards. December 2019 Billie Davies was nominated "Best Drummer" in New Orleans by 2019 Best Of The Beat Awards.

Damani Butler, Maude Caillat, Billie Davies at Dangerous Art Studios

Damani Butler, Maude Caillat, Billie Davies

By Billie Davies PR
06/17/2020
#dangerousartstudios #cobrabasement #damanibutler #maudecaillat #billiedavies #mikedavies #neworleans #newmusic #newmusicalert #whadeva

Thursday, June 4, 2020

WHADEVA (Damani Butler, Maude Caillat, Billie Davies) coming soon to your ears





WHADEVA ... coming very soon.

Recorded Feb 13 2020. New Orleans. Ai Corona!

A Dangerous Art Studios - Damani Butler - Cobra Basement project.

Damani Butler - electronics/loops/waves/beats 
Maude Caillat - woodwinds 
Billie Davies - electronic drums 
Mike Davies - audio 

All the music you will hear under "Whadeva" was recorded during the Coronavirus outbreak with a final recording date of February 13. It had not reached New Orleans yet, or so we thought, with mardi-gras slowly but surely going into full swing. 
All we knew was what we heard and read and saw, which then made me think... and we all got sick with some type of flu. 
Aye - Ai - Oy vey - Oei !!!*☆Corona☆*!!!
A month later we were all on lockdown and now it is time to let go, to let this music go.

#dangerousartstudios #cobrabasement #billiedavies #damanibutler #maudecaillat #mikedavies #neworleans #corona #newmusic #newmusicalert

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Billie Davies Nominated "Best Drummer" By Best Of The Beat 2019 Awards

Billie Davies nominated "Best Drummer" by Best Of The Beat 2019 Awards


Billie Davies has been nominated "Best Drummer" for the Best Of The Beat Awards 2019.

The OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation’s Best of the Beat Nominations are in.
We solicited nominations from musicians and many others in the music community. We then gave the results to our writers and editors and with input from both, determined the nominations in each category. Click here to vote!
The public starts voting on December 26 at OffBeat.com and voting ends on January 15. Winners will be announced at the Best of the Beat, which will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Market on Thursday January 30.

This is the second time that Billie has been nominated for her exceptional talent since she has moved to New Orleans. The 2017 Best Of The Beat awards nominated her for Best Contemporary Jazz Artist.
Billie would like to express her sincere thanks for the recognition.


HER MUSIC IS IT'S OWN ORIGINAL BEAST
Billie Davies is an American jazz drummer and composer best known for her free and avant-garde jazz compositions since the mid-1990s, and her improvisational drumming techniques. The music of BILLIE DAVIES line-ups moves beyond Jazz with it's own unique and truly improvisational style
"...reminding us sometimes of many different things but in the end, it is its own original beast, as powerful as anything more well-known musicians have created.. Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz".


On her latest album:
PERSPECTIVES II
BILLIE DAVIES TRIO REVIEWED IN JAZZ VIEWS
“Given the melting pot that New Orleans continues to be for jazz, it is not surprising that Davies has based herself here, nor that the musicians she gathers around her are not easy to pigeon-hole into one style of jazz (or even one style of music in any wider sense). This is another very successful experiment by Davies in mining the creative depths of improvised music making, producing a sound that cannot be simply labelled as jazz (even if it fully has the swing of jazz in all of the pieces brought by Davies and Watkinson in their dynamic partnership) and which really does respond to the cosmic dimensions of its inspiration.” - Chris Baber, Jazz Views (May, 2019)

Saturday, October 12, 2019

SOUND II (Davies, Masakowski, Balgochian) Live at Sidebar Nola



SOUND
A meeting of minds.
Set 2
Billie Davies - drums
Steve Masakowski - guitar
Abbey Balgochian - bass

Live at Sidebar Nola in New Orleans
October 5, 2019
serious sound sculpture... consider yourself early-warned....Buckle Up!
Sound and video recorded by Mike Davies on Zoom Q8.

Friday, October 11, 2019

SOUND I (Davies, Masakowski, Balgochian) Live at Sidebar Nola





SOUND A meeting of minds. Set 1 Billie Davies - drums Steve Masakowski - guitar Abbey Balgochian - bass Live at Sidebar Nola in New Orleans October 5, 2019 serious sound sculpture... consider yourself early-warned....Buckle Up! Sound and video recorded by Mike Davies on Zoom Q8.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Billie Davies Trio (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) with Steve Masakowski at SideBar Nola, March 29, 2019 at 9 PM.

Billie Davies Trio (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) with Steve Masakowski at SideBar Nola

Billie Davies Trio (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) with Steve Masakowski at SideBar Nola, March 29, 2019 at 9 PM.

Billie Davies Trio (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) will be playing with Steve Masakowski at SideBar NOLA in New Orleans on Friday March 29, 2019 at 9PM.

Energies coming together to create something that has never been created before and will never be created again. 
A spontaneous expression, a harmony achieved that speaks for the existence of a universal energy that moves us all, no matter what perspective.

Billie Davies is an American jazz drummer and composer best known for her free and avant-garde jazz compositions since the mid-1990s, and her improvisational drumming techniques. She is a very accomplished free-jazz drummer. Born in Belgium, she now lives in New Orleans, having spent much of her life living peripatetically. The music of Billie Davies Trio and her other line-ups, moves on from the Jazz and Avant-garde world beyond Jazz with it's own very unique and truly improvisational jam style reminding us sometimes of, as Jerome Wilson put it on AAJ, the spiritual jazz tradition, as exemplified by John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders. 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. She has released five CD’s, of which three in New Orleans, she has been awarded “Best Jazz Artist” in Los Angeles in 2013 and was nominated “Best Contemporary Jazz Artist” in New Orleans in 2017.

Steve Masakowski has long been regarded as one of the finest jazz guitarists from New Orleans. His experience as a recording artist and jazz soloist is extensive.
His music has been featured in major publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Downbeat, Jazz Times, and many others. In addition, Masakowski was honored by National Public Radio with a feature biography which aired nationally on the Morning Edition radio program. Born and raised in New Orleans, Steve Masakowski has played guitar with most of the city’s greatest musicians including Alvin “Red” Tyler, Ellis Marsalis, Danny Barker, Earl Turbinton, and James Black. He has also performed with Grammy Award-winning artists Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, Allen Toussaint, Dianne Reeves and others at major festivals around the world. As a recording artist, he has released numerous CDs including two on the prestigious Blue Note Records label. He has been an active member of, and composer for the award winning New Orleans jazz group, Astral Project.

Evan Oberla - Piano/Keys/Synth & Trombone. “Music never stops, it only begins. All the music that ever was exists now. It is the musician's job to tune into the universe and become a vessel for the music of the moment.” Evan Oberla 
Evan was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, playing piano and guitar at an early age. In 5th grade he picked up the trombone for the school band. In high school his musicality led him to participate in multiple jazz ensembles, including the acclaimed Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. Evan graduated in June 2009 from Ohio State University with a degree in Jazz Studies performance. A diverse and active musician based out of New Orleans, LA, he can be found with acts such as EO & The Tasty Sapiens, Brass Lightning, Sexual Thunder, Allie Porter Band, Billie Davies, Miss Mojo, Mike Dillon & more. Evan has toured nationally with O.A.R., Allen Stone, and Elle King.

Oliver Watkinson - & Upright Bass. Born in Brunswick Maine, Oliver began studying music at the age of five. He attended college in Boston at the New England Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to study upright jazz bass and perform with greats such as Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, and many more. In 2014, Oliver moved to New Orleans and began performing with Billie Davies in 2015, Gandhi Castle, Laelume, and various street bands. He has taught and performed all over the United States, as well as Central America and Canada.

#billiedavies #billiedaviestrio #stevemasakowski, #evanoberla, #oliverwatkinson, #sidebarnola, #neworleans, #usa

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

Saturday, September 22, 2018

New Orleans Drummer Billie Davies Announces Her New Release, "Perspectives II" By Billie Davies Trio, For September 27, 2018



"New Orleans Drummer Billie Davies Announces Her New Release, "Perspectives II" By Billie Davies Trio, For September 27, 2018"

SOURCE: BILLIE DAVIES PR September 12, 2018 1,677 Views

"Freedom and expression. These are the things that matter most to Billie Davies, who has used the drums as a means to express herself freely for more than 40 years now." —Noe Cugny, Offbeat Magazine.




About Perspectives II“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

Perspectives II is an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and seven chakra musical keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys / trombone, baritone sax / flute, bass, drums and vocals / spoken word by two female vocalists.

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. 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.

A spontaneous expression through sound, through words and through movement, all expressing perspectives of Nature, Life, Happiness, Love, Freedom, Art and Rhythm.


Personnel
Billie Davies: drums
Evan Oberla: piano/keys/trombone
Oliver Watkinson: bass
Ari Kohn: woodwinds
Iris P: vocals
Allie Porter: vocals

Live recorded for sound and video at: Art Klub, New Orleans.


Tracks Listing
Nature (11:36)
Life (06:13)
Happiness (07:15)
Love (07:15)
Freedom (16:47)
Art (13:37)
Rhythm (14:45)

Release date: September 27, 2018.


About The Performers

Billie Davies
“Billie Davies is a very accomplished free-jazz drummer. Born in Belgium, she now lives in New Orleans, having spent much of her life living peripatetically. Previous reviewers have made much of the self-taught nature of her drumming. I defy any listener to distinguish her playing from someone ‘schooled’ in jazz drumming. There is a vitality and fluidity in the way that she plays the drum kit... her stories explain her drumming... ”- Chris Baber, Jazz Views (Jun 30, 2016)

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. CJ Bond, JAZZ MUSIC, wrote, “12 VOLT 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 recorded 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, released in 12/10/2016 became a January 2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com.
December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for “Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans by OffBeat Magazine.

Evan Oberla
“Music never stops, it only begins. All the music that ever was exists now. It is the musician's job to tune into the universe and become a vessel for the music of the moment." Evan Oberla Evan was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, playing piano and guitar at an early age. In 5th grade he picked up the trombone for the school band. In high school his musicality led him to participate in multiple jazz ensembles, including the acclaimed Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. Evan graduated in June 2009 from Ohio State University with a degree in Jazz Studies performance. A diverse and active musician based out of New Orleans, LA, he can be found with acts such as EO & The Tasty Sapiens, Brass Lightning, Sexual Thunder, Allie Porter Band, Billie Davies, Miss Mojo, Mike Dillon & more. Evan has toured nationally with O.A.R., Allen Stone, and Elle King.

Oliver Watkinson
Born in Brunswick Maine, Oliver began studying music at the age of five. He attended college in Boston at the New England Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to study upright jazz bass and perform with greats such as Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, and many more. In 2014, Oliver moved to New Orleans and began performing with BILLIE DAVIES in 2015, Gandhi Castle, Laelume, and various street bands. He has taught and performed all over the United States, as well as Central America and Canada.

Ari Kohn
Born in Portland, OR he now lives in New Orleans and is a jazz studies graduate from Tulane University. Ari is fast becoming one of the important younger musicians in New Orleans. He is a very creative and dedicated reeds/woodwind player that can be found playing with Brass Lightning, Miss Mojo, Allen Stone, Elle King, Sexual Thunder!, Doombalaya, Noruz, and more. He is a BOOST Music Teacher at New Orleans College Prep Charter Schools. He played and performed with the Billie Davies Ensemble horn section in 2015 and with Billie Davies & The Bad Boyzzzz horn section in 2015/16. He joined BILLIE DAVIES in January of 2018 for the “PERSPECTIVES I & II” project.

Iris P
Born in 1985, in New Orleans, Catherine Poree' aka IRIS P, discovered her talent when she received her very first instrument, a violin, at the age of 6. From there she went on to perform in orchestra concerts and a host of plays, but most of all enjoyed singing with her mother, the late Marilyn J. Etienne, also known as LADY GOSPEL. In 2010 IRIS P started her mission to “save the world" by performing her original songs written from her extravagant poetry debuting a plethora of songs from her Underground EP “I Got Issues". IRIS P shows style like no-other with Jazz Melodies when she played “Billie Holiday" in “Dryades Street Divas Review" in the summer of 2014, held at Ashe's Cultural Center. She won “Nola’s Hottest Female Vocalist In October of 2014" at the Nola Hip Hop Awards, and headlined in the Foundation Room at the New Orleans House of Blues. She joined BILLIE DAVIES for the recording of “On Hollywood Boulevard” in 2016.

Allie Porter
Hails from Crofton, MD and is a singer and songwriter now living in New Orleans with honest pipes and a heart of gold bringing you the music of your past, present and future. She has been influenced by Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Irma Thomas, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Beyonce and Janis Joplin. She can be seen performing in New Orleans with The Allie Porter Band, The Holy Trinity Trio and more. She joined BILLIE DAVIES in January of 2018 for the “PERSPECTIVES I & II” project.

Dancers in Video: Artivism Dance Theatre featuring Elle C Jones and Briana Alston
Artivism Dance Theatre is a collective dedicated to bringing awareness of social issues to a wide range of audiences through dance theatre. Artivism aims to generate discussion amongst its audiences and open a dialogue around these important issues. We prioritize communication of social message over esoteric performance, often using multimedia techniques in our work. We believe that art, and specifically movement, can communicate perspective and experience across gaps in culture, language, and tradition that might otherwise remain unbreachable.

Visit Website

Related Video

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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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Power Players: Billie Davies plays her own music - OffBeat Magazine

Power Players: Billie Davies plays her own music - OffBeat Magazine: Noé Cugny talks about Billie Davies, who has used the drums as a means to express herself freely for more than 40 years now.

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, January 19, 2018

#Tonight (1-19-18) 8PM BILLIE DAVIES trio at The Frenchmen Hotel Rooftop Bar

Tonight (01/19/18) 8pm - 11pm


Halfway To The Blood Moon

concert under the stars

Hosted by Portal

The Frenchmen Hotel Rooftop Bar
417 Frenchman Street
New Orleans

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Billie Davies - A Nu Experience at Music At The Mint, May 19

Billie Davies - A Nu Experience at Music At The Mint, May 19:
Billie Davies - A Nu Experience at Music At The Mint, May 19. Musicians: Billie Davies, Evan Oberla, Oliver Watkinson, Iris Poree, - order tickets, find location and other info. Never miss another jazz concert in New Orleans again!


Sunday, May 8, 2016

BILLIE DAVIES & The Bad Boyzzzz Live at Open Ears Music Set 2



"In The Key Of Jazz" (Set 2).
Billie Davies & The Bad Boyzzzz
Tuesday May 03, 2016 @
Open Ears Music Series
Blue Nile Balcony Room
Frenchmen Street, New Orleans.

Ari Kohn reeds, Billie Davies drums, Branden Lewis trumpet, Oliver Watkinson bass, Evan Oberla trombone.
Video & Sound: Mike Davies.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

BILLIE DAVIES & The Bad Boyzzzz Live at Open Ears



"In The Key Of Jazz" (Set 1).
Billie Davies & The Bad Boyzzzz
Tuesday May 03, 2016 @
Open Ears Music Series
Blue Nile Balcony Room
Frenchmen Street, New Orleans.

Ari Kohn reeds, Billie Davies drums, Branden Lewis trumpet, Oliver Watkinson bass, Evan Oberla trombone.
Video & Sound: Mike Davies.

Monday, September 28, 2015

New CD by BILLIE DAVIES, "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon", available October 1, 2015

BILLIE DAVIES - Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon - The Paintings
HAND IN HAND IN THE HAND OF THE MOON
BILLIE DAVIES
An homage to Serge Vandercam (Copenhagen, Denmark, 1924 - Wavre, Belgium, March 10, 2005). A symphony inspired by paintings by Serge Vandercam and drums by Billie Davies (Brugge, Belgium, 1955).
The painter influenced by the drummer and the drummer influenced by the painter over a period of three days of the full moon. A collaborative work, conceived in 1995 resulting 20 years later in a series of 8 paintings and a jazz symphony of 8 musical movements.
Serge VandercamBillie Davies
Serge Vandercam painting on Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon
"You would have loved where I was at,
Serge,
between the Rocks, the Dirt, the Coyotes, the Eagles, the Mountain Lions, the Road Runners, the Rattle Snakes.
You would have loved where I am at,
Serge,
in the heat of New Orleans with the Banana trees, the Gators, the Water Moccasins, the Egrets, the Hawks, the Pelicans and the Swamps, the Bayous and the Music
and the Sun and the Moon and the Birds.
Serge,
this Music has been made with You in mind...
You, Me, then, Painting and Drums,
and now Music inspired by these paintings ...
a Symphony to You and to Thalia.
A symphony to the Magic in fine Art
A symphony to Nature.
A symphony to the Bird with the Wish that
People listen to Mother Nature
People listen to the Bird."
Billie Davies
One has to give that justice to art, That it brings proof that nothing functions. It establishes that there is no use, Not for the universe, Not for religion. It's flagrant uselessness makes one discover that something, Of which no-one gave much thought, Suddenly becomes essential. (Francois Jaqmin. Translated from French by Billie Davies.)

THE ALBUM 

Hand In The Hand In The Hand Of The Moon

ARTISTIC INTEGRITY SPIRITUALISM IN ART PASSION CREATIVE EXPRESSION INTEGRITY PRIDE ORIGINALITY DEFINITION INTUITION INSTINCT Conversation rather then Technique

The Movements -
prelude. Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon - 7:26
i. Hand In Hand - 7:02
ii. In The Hand Of The Moon - 7:27
iii. Hand In The Hand In The Hand Of The Moon, Listen To The Bird - 7:59
iv. As She Tells - 7:10
v. The Shark In The Hand - 4:40
vi. Tiburon - 8:36
vii. The Bridge - 9:08

This music was recorded live in one take on an afternoon in April with all musicians in one 600 Square Feet room that was acoustically treated.
A slide show was playing photos that were taken during the painting/drumming session in 1995 and other photos of Serge Vandercam and Billie Davies.
For each movement the corresponding actual painting was hanging on a wall, visible to all musicians, in bright light.

The Paintings -
7 movement paintings were painted by Serge Vandercam (1924, Denmark - 2005 Belgium) in February of 1995 as a collaborative improvisational work inspired by drums played by Billie Davies during the three days of the full moon.
The prelude painting was painted by Billie Davies in 1995.The Art on the CD cover was painted by Billie Davies in 1996.
The Musicians -
Alex Blaine on tenor sax, Branden Lewis on trumpet, Evan Oberla on trombone
Billie Davies on drums, Ed Strohsahl on upright bass

The BILLIE DAVIES Ensemble
The Recording -
Recorded Live in New Orleans by Mike Davies on April 24, 2015 at the 415 Blossom Street Studio. Mixing by Mike Davies. Mastering by John Vestman. Produced by Mike Davies.

Recording Engineer / Producer Mike Davies
Press & Booking Contact -

Publicist: Scott Thompson
http://www.scottthompsonpr.com
-
Bandleader: Billie Davies - New Orleans, LA - Tel: (+1) 310.467.2061 | Email: Billie@BillieDavies.com
Website: http://www.BillieDavies.com | Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Davies

BILLIE DAVIES - Hand in Hand In The Hand Of The Moon - The Album

 
BILLIE DAVIES CDs are available at the Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans | Buy Billie Davies CDs on CDBaby | Buy and Listen to Billie Davies music on iTunes | Buy Billie Davies' Music on Amazon | Listen to Billie Davies on Google PlayBILLIE DAVIES music is available on BandCamp