Nathan Davis – Makatuka

Nathan Davis – Makatuka LP

When you have been in radio for Twenty-Six years playing all kinds of music, you kind of get an "ear" for something distinct. This is exactly what my ears grasped when I listened to Nathan Davis playing three instruments (bass clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax) along with some very fine side-men who unite into some funky and soulful sounds.

Nathan Davis, born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, participated in his high school band and dance band, won his state music competition from which he received various scholarships leading him to a degree in Music Education from the University Of Kansas, and the production and promotion of jazz concerts at various Universities. While in the army, and living in Europe for Ten years, Nathan won the European and U.S. Army music competition, toured all over France, Germany, Belgium, and many other countries. He studied at the Sorbonne, instructed jazz studies at the Paris American Academy of Music, and in 1969, Belgium's Minister of Culture employed Nathan to give a series of jazz clinics. Nathan worked with many fine musicians: Donald Byrd, Hampton Hawes, Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke, Mel Waldron, Benny Bailey, and Eric Dolphy, who influenced his flute and bass clarinet sounds.

Now, Nathan returns to the U.S. as Director of Jazz Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh, and to record his first album in this country. The Hip Walk, Happy Girl, Rules of Freedom, and other albums were recorded overseas. Nathan produced Jazz Pittsburgh, part of the annual week long Three Rivers Art Festival for which he received numerous standing ovations in addition to putting together a Big Band consisting of many of the fine local musicians.

In this album, Nathan Davis composes and plays with Joe Kennedy, piano, Nelson Harrison, trombone, Don Depaotis on electric piano, Virgil Walters on fender bass, Mike Taylor, bass, and Rodger Humphries (formerly with Horace Silver) on drums.

Listen to the sounds of Nathan Davis who is practicing under the influence of hypnosis as he puts you under his weird spell.

MAKATUKA, in 7/8 time, is a tribute to Makaya Ntzhoko, a South African drummer with whom Nathan recorded a live album in Munich, Germany. Nathan opens up on tenor sax, joined by trombonist Nelson Harrison, and after a few bars of a soulful African melody, Don Depaotis blends in on electric piano. Just dig the sounds they get!

TO URSULA WITH LOVE, was written by Nathan for his wife; listen to the way he tells of love for his woman through his soprano sax. I suggest that you play this one for your lady when you want to get into your bag.

SLAVE MARCH, depicts musically tramping slaves (they may be slaves to many things – love, peace, job, etc.). In this cut, Nathan plays bass clarinet and tenor sax. Bassist, Virgil Walters was added to this number to give it a contrasting bass effect. It begins with the beautiful work of Nelson Harrison, Nathan's tenor sax and Rodger Humphries coming in nicely on drums. No trouble with the grease on this one. The fellows just slide soulfully on through, but the Slaves March doesn't stop…it just fades out for the march is never really over. Dig it!

EXTRA SENSORY PERFECTION, puts you in your weird bag and under a spell when Nathan plays his tenor. He brings to you the sounds of a new world, a world of many moods. Listen to all the cats quietly get into a nice groove.

I WANT TO BE FREE, swings through with a message. It might seem odd for a singer to be in on Nathan's recording date, but blues is part of jazz, and the young people today have a message for the world. Young vocalist, Wheeler Winstead, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, first heard by Nathan singing with the Pitt Band, puts it over. Nathan takes a groovy solo on soprano sax along with Nelson Harrison, one of the finest trombonist in the country.

LADIES LIB, swings from head to toe. I know you'll like this one as Nathan puts together some sounds that most disc jockeys have been asking for. Everyone can go into their spell here, and do their thing.

There is something for everyone on this album. Tell your friends about the spell this album puts you in. Right on!

Bill Powell
WAMO
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nathan Davis – Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Bass Clarinet
Nelson Harrison – Trombone
Joe Kennedy – Piano
Don Depaotis – Electric Piano
Rodger Humphries – Drums
Mike Taylor – Bass
Virgil Walters – Electric Bass
Wheeler Winstead – Vocals

A1-Makatuka
A2-To Ursula With Love
A3-Slave March
B1-Extra Sensory Perfection
B2-I Want To Be Free
B3-Ladies Lib.

Nathan Davis – Makatuka

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