Thursday, October 4, 2018

PERSPECTIVES II - BILLIE DAVIES trio

Official set of live videos from the audio/video recording session of "PERSPECTIVES II" by the BILLIE DAVIES trio (Davies, Oberla, Watkinson) Featuring Ari Kohn, woodwinds, Iris P and Allie Porter, vocals, Elle C. Jones and Briana Alston, dance.

Video recording and editing by Marion Hill.

Audio recording, mixing, mastering and video cuts by Mike Davies.



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: NoƩ Cugny talks about Billie Davies, who has used the drums as a means to express herself freely for more than 40 years now.