Rob Davis

Rob Davis has been considered one of the best tenor saxophonists on the busy Seattle jazz scene since the '90s. He has been involved in both leading his own bands and making contributions as a sideman to the bands of drummer Steve Korn, Matt Jorgensen, Jim Knapp and many others. Davis is a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in saxophone performance. One of his main projects as a leader has been the Davis/Taylor Project, a quintet in which he teamed up with fellow saxophonist Mark Taylor. Davis is also devoted to big-band jazz, performing not only with the Jim Knapp Orchestra but contributing mightily to the grand efforts of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Concert audiences in the Pacific Northwest have also heard this player in the context of orchestras assembled to back touring stars, from the versatile R&B of Ray Charles to the sophisticated big-band arrangements of Gerald Wilson. Well-known players such as saxophonist Eddie Daniels, drummer Billy Hart, and flautist and saxophonist Bud Shank have also made use of Davis on Seattle and Portland gigs. In many ways, this saxophonist is the ideal collaborator, pushing forward certain aspects of his talents depending on the situation. He also has been active as a saxophone instructor. ~ Eugene Chadbourne