Review (Avant Garde): “12 Volt” - Billie Davies
Billie Davies has an interesting story. Her travels have led her to many places. She began her journey in Belgium and grew up
singing, writing, and eventually playing drums at the age of 14. After several awards for her artistic
creations, she became a DJ at 23 and played in clubs in Germany and
Belgium. It was at this time she was
offered a grant to study at Berklee College of Music under Max Roach after he
heard her audition tape. He felt that she “could learn
more fundamental drumming techniques” but he heard “the natural drummer” in
her.
She declined the move to the US at that time but became a
professional drummer at 25 citing Al Foster, Billy Higgins, Billy Cobham, Jack De Johnette, Ed
Thigpen, and Peter Erskine as her biggest influences.
After moving to the US at 32 she settled in Los Angeles,
California and became a US Citizen. She
recorded with several artists and began to compose music for her own
release. Her latest project “12 Volt”
was recorded in April 2013 and released in October. It features Daniel Coffeng on Guitar and Adam Levy on Bass.
The
pieces on the album are inspired by her life in the wine regions of France
where she lived amongst gypsies.
The title comes from the 12 volt battery that ran everything electric in
the RV where she stayed with local blues jazz guitarist Claude Mazet. She remembers her life among the gypsies and
her life in the south of Europe fondly and “It is that bohemian life,
that close to nature life... so close that all the music…everything else you do
or think becomes….a reflection of it.”
The first selection on the album is reminiscent of Miles
Davis’ electric period of the 70s. There
are several themes that are stated initially, these are followed by the
improvisation section which brings in ideas from the themes that were
presented. The piece ends on the same thematic material that it began
with. There are some nice dynamic
changes in the music and Ms. Davies creates some pleasant colors with her
cymbal work. Daniel Coffeng has ample
chops to play a variety of styles and his technique ties the variety of ideas
together.
Her style is definitely of the avant garde school of jazz
which seeks to go beyond the boundaries of the standard elements of music. We are taught that the elements of music: rhythm,
harmony, melody and form, are the key foundational elements of music. Well what happens if you remove these
elements can you still call it music? Is it possible to remove them completely? This is the debate that has been going on in
the jazz community since Ornette Coleman released Free Jazz in 1960.
Ms. Davies is adding her take on that conversation and she
brings an interesting offering to the table with her composition “12 Volt.” Give it a listen and let us know what you
think.
You can listen to her work here:
Belgium native and Los Angeles based drummer Billie Davies continues to forge her own path in the improvised music world. Endowed with an explorative temperament and unique, yet definite swing sense, Davies pays homage to Gypsy musicians on her fourth release as a leader, 12 Volt. 
