Walter Davis Jr (September 2, 1932 – June 2, 1990) was one the most underrecognized top tier jazz music pianists of the twentieth century. A native of Richmond, Virginia, he played with, among others, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, 

Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Criss, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Pierre Michelot and Sam Jones. 

Active in the 1950s, he went off the jazz scene in the 1960s and operated a tailoring business, before returning to the stage and studios in the 1970s and 1980s.  He died suddenly on June 2, 1990, while touring with Dizzy Gillespie. 

Davis Cup, one of my Top Ten Blue Note LPs and Top 10 Jazz Records in my collection, presents swinging hard bop full of melody, grooving with sustained rhythm.  Everyone in the group is in excellent form, with Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean giving standout performances. The sound is excellent.

For those who love the story of Blue Note Records, you may be interested to know that this was the first LP that Rudy Van Gelder recorded at his new studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA. Hitherto, he had been recording music in a studio in his parents’ home in Hackensack, New Jersey. 

Walter Davis Junior: Davis Cup

Blue Note BST 84018

Recorded on August 2, 1959

First released in June 1960

Musicians:

Walter Davis Jr. – piano

Donald Byrd – trumpet

Jackie McLean – alto saxophone

Sam Jones – bass

Art Taylor – drums

Recommended reissue: 

Analogue Productions 2 x 12” Vinyl LP @ 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo