Richard Davis

[Sam Sherry]

Gotta like Jaki Byard Experience with Roland Kirk. It's not quite on the level of my all-time favorite, "Live at Lennie's," but it's up there.

The bass line on "The Creator Has A Master Plan" off Karma by Pharoah Sanders is a hall-of-fame riff and playing it for 32:47 is a friggin' work-out! No wonder there's two bassists -- Richard and Reggie Workman.

Footprints by Pat Martino shows Richard's incredible drive . . . but from what I remember, the bass sound was terrible. It sounded "direct" before direct was direct, y'know?

[Marcus Johnson]

Yup, Footprints is my least favorite recording by I bassist I love otherwise. Nails, big time. Makes my teeth itch just to listen to it.

[Pete Coco]

I remember the first time I heard Richard Davis. I was only playing jazz for a few months and I was completely amazed by his walking - the way he did so many rhythmic skips and jumps. I loved his playing right away, and not only his rhythm but his tone too. I can't remember the recording but it was some Thad tune.....