Drew Davidsen's Blog

Walk among tha Nations day #7 Rorschach

drewdavidsen — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:04:08 +0000

We had a great time at the Jazz Club Rorschach in Rorschach, Switzerland.

I had a great band featuring:

Lutz Detarra- Keys

Marc Leymann- Saxophone

Gunter Asbeck- Bass

Andy Pilger- Drums

I will post some more pics and some more news in a bit…

Walk Among the Nations day #5

drewdavidsen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:47:32 +0000

Today I spent the day with my new Italian friend and favorite Italian guitar player – amp technician, Kristian. He met me at the house where I am staying in Italy. Then it was off to sample the best Italian pizza. They really know how to do pizza here! We went to Kristian’s pad to plug-in my Carvin V3m Micro Head. (I know more gear talk…) This is my guitar amp. Only this is just the head without a speaker. It’s very compact and all I need to do is rent a speaker where ever I go in the world. Or I can go direct into the sound system of the club. This time we drove a late 80′s Marshal 4×10 cabinet with my V3m. Literal translation… I connected it to a very BIG speaker at Kristian’s pad / house and got… TONE! Yeah baby. Kristian was so nice and helpful to me. He gave me an Italian / European plug. The cool thing about my Carvin V3m amp head is that it has a switch that lets it operate on 240v. Europe’s current is different from the 120v in the US. Because the plug can easily detach from the back, I can just hook up the European plug with no worries. Back in the USA I will put the switch back to 120v and use my standard American plug. After a dinner I cooked (Yes I cooked my specialty… chicken, potatoes, and broccoli) we hit a local jam at Spazio Musica in Pavia Italy. The house band had equipment I could use so I just brought my Carvin Guitars. My cousin, Mika, came and took some photos and this video. I had some fun playing some Hendrix… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpvkXhkEOIE&feature=autoshare

Walk Among the Nations Tour day 4

drewdavidsen — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:25:18 +0000

Today I did a short concert in my Aunt’s Church. I used my Carvin Guitars and my Roland GR 55. (This is for all you gear heads.) Pics of that concert coming soon. We had some Chinese food for lunch and then we went sightseeing in Milan. And yes I bought a tie… Can you guess which one? Really there were so many that I liked. The name of the store was Andrew’s Ties. Got to love that. After sightseeing in Milan we went to Zia Lucia’s apartment for an amazing meal. It’s her birthday!!! I’m really looking forward to performing in Rorschach Switzerland. That’s coming up on 11-11-11.

Walk Among the Nations Tour day #3 Tortona, Itlay

drewdavidsen — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:40:36 +0000

As you should know by now… I love guitars! I had a good chance to show off my Carvin guitars at this cool Store. Kristian was a huge help fixing my Roland AC 60. It need a new fuse. I have to get a converter for it tomorrow! I also got a real Italian Suit today! Time to look sharp… Yeah!!!

Walk Among the Nations Tour day #2 Voghera, Italy

drewdavidsen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:31:03 +0000

This is the house where I’m staying in Voghera, Italy. Looks like I have a new friend coming to say, “Hello.” One of the things I’m planning on doing during my stay here in Italy is having a real Italian suit made. Oh… did I mention they drive much faster here?

Walk Among the Nations Tour day #1

drewdavidsen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:10:56 +0000

We have arrived in Italy. I’m now in the town of Voghera just outside Milan… This is my first European tour. Looking forward to meeting the fans over here and playing some great jazz. My first full band concert is in Rorschach Switzerland on 11-11-11. http://www.jazzclub-rorschach.ch/ Hope to see you there!!

Iron Sharpens Iron #3: (the bass player edtion)

drewdavidsen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:03:41 +0000

Darryl Williams (Bass Guitar)

I first met Darryl online about 4 years ago. Soon after Around (Again) released I began to see him at the various jazz festivals I was playing. We even played together in a jam session once. In 2010 when I needed a bass player for my set at JazzTrax on Catalina Island, I decided to try Darryl Williams. This was a great move! Since that show Darryl has played bass for me whenever I hit CA. Darryl also introduced me to Carvin. Darryl is a huge supporter of Carvin basses. After the winter NAMM show I started really thinking about playing a Carvin Guitar. Darryl made some key introductions and I’m now off and running. Darryl plays bass with some of the best jazz / pop / R&B artists out there. It’s truly an honor to play with Darryl and call him my friend. Darrly Williams has great CD out too. Check out Darryl Williams here!

Chris Rhodes (Bass Guitar)

Chris Rhodes is part of my east coast band. He lives about 30 minutes from me. So… we play together quite a bit. We first met at the local jam session in Baltimore. Monday nights at Club 347 was the spot! Then we competed against each other in a Guitar Center Blues competition. Chris tuned his guitar like a bass and let her rip! We began to talk in the parking lot of the store and Chris put two and two together. He had been hearing a song called “Astro” on XM Watercolors. Soon he figured out that was my song. It wasn’t long before he became a member of my band. Not only is Chris a very funky bass player, he is a great friend! Chris is one of the rocks that has greatly helped my east coast group to get to the next level. Connect with Chris Rhodes on facebook.

Iron Sharpens Iron #2

drewdavidsen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:44:54 +0000

Iron Sharpens Iron- Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Meet- Jesse Powers!

Jesse Powers on Facebook

Jesse is an incredible bass player and a dear friend. Jesse played bass with me at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival on October of ’09. But I want to tell you the back story of Jesse. Jesse has a band called “Spice.” They run several local jam sessions in the Baltimore Metro area. I first met Jesse in 1993 at a jam session he was hosting in downtown Baltimore. He really encouraged me to keep playing jazz and growing as a musician. I was a young 23 year old guitar player ready to take on the world. In ’95 I started playing with RWG and got out of the jam session loop. 12 yaers later I decided to hit a local Charm City jam session and what do I find? Jesse Powers at the helm. To this day Jesse is still doing what he does best, inspiring and empowering both young and old musicians to reach their highest potential! Jesse Powers has been a huge inspiration to me and I am so thankful he was able to play with me at JazzTrax and support my launch into the national spotlight! Thank you, my mentor and my friend!

Meet- Christian “Big New York” de Mesones
Groove Skool Band
www.grooveskoolband.com

The Big New York! Yeah. I first saw Christian play at Blues Alley in Washington DC. What I love about Christian is his big heart! We have become good friends and will be doing a show together with both our bands on Friday, September 16th at K-2 in Woodbridge, VA. Showtime is 9pm. Details are below and also on my website. I really hope to see you there. You get two great bands for one low price. What’s not to like? It’s gonna be a hot night. Chrsitan’s group is called “Groove Skool.” I have played a few events before with their drummer Nick Costa. This will be my first time to perform with The Big New York himself. Here is how all this connects. I first met Nick at one of Jesse Powers jam sessions. See, we are all family!

What do you Know About Sickle Cell Disease?

drewdavidsen — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:59:44 +0000

Did you know that while sickle cell disease is much more common in people of African and Mediterranean descent, it is also seen in people from South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East? Did you know it is intermittently painful and potentially life threatening?

I have been learning more about Sickle Cell Disease. September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

Art Sherrod and I have agreed to come together to help support a fundraiser for the William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund whose mission is “To support sickle cell awareness, education, state-of-the-art treatment and research, and to bring hope to families affected by this devastating disease.” Learn more at:

http://www.wepsicklecell.org

You can make your contribution to the effort and enjoy some jazz too on

September 22

6th Annual Fundraiser All Jazzed Up!  6:00 p.m. – VIP Mixer 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Jazz Reception Legg Mason World Headquarters 100 International Drive Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Order tickets at: http://wepsicklecell.eventbrite.com/

Iron Sharpens Iron

drewdavidsen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:16:22 +0000

Iron Sarpens Iron - This is a new feature of my newsletter and blog where I pay homage to musical friends and mentors.. Check out Proverbs 27:17

RWG (Richard Walton Group):

The founder, leader and bass player of this group is Richard Walton. Richard plays acoustic guitar and sings as well. For those of you who don’t know, this was the first professional jazz band I ever played in. I remember my Dad liked it when I joined this group. I owe a lot to the Richard Walton Group; they really helped shape my music career. One thing I liked about this band was that they did so many different styles, most of them jazz though. Pop vocal tunes were in the set as well. This streched me as a player. I first met Richard in ’93 when I was in college. I got his business card from a sax player. I contacted Richard and he invited me to play on a gig that his regular lead guitar player could not do. At the first rehearsal, I met Eric Robertson, the band’s new drummer and rhythm guitarist David Meer. We all clicked right away. A few years later, Richard contacted me again when he had a tune he wanted me to play guitar on. The album was called, Where Time Stood Still. Richard then asked me to join the band. They even took an idea I had and it became the first of many tunes we would write together. We named that tune, “Strollin.’”

I have many fond memories of playing in RWG. One that stands out was when we played on a parade float. We sent our sax player off the float and into the crowd. The mission was to hand out cards. Oops… he almost got left behind… lol We were moving at a good clip. I spent 10 good years in this band and played on several CD’s. Richard and I were quite a writting force. Check Richard Walton out here. http://notlaw.com/pages/

Buddy Jordan bass:   

When I first met Buddy Jordan he was working for Guitar Center. Buddy was part of the Pro-Audio Department. At the time I don’t think I knew he was a bass player. But, I had a good friend from church that would always say, “talk to Buddy when you need gear.” A few years later I discovered that Buddy was in fact also a great bass player. We jammed together in the local club and he soon made it in my phone book! One fond memory I have is this time when I had Buddy on one of my gigs. The club was called Bliss. We played my tune, “Astro,” and he did this amazing bass solo in the center. It was that show I also remember sitting in his car and hearing what would be the premixes of his new CD, Did Somebody Say Bass? This is a very nice CD. I also remember having a great time playing on a cruise out of Baltimore with his band, Beyond Blue. Be sure and get your copy of Buddy’s CD here! http://www.buddyjordan.com

Rodney Kelly Guitar:

Other than Nick Colionne Rodney Kelly is one of the sharpest dressed jazz guitar players. I’m talking suit, hat. and the works. When you see him he almost always has an arch-top in his hand. That would be a big jazz box with f-holes. I first met Rodney Kelly at the Monday night jam session at Club 347 in Baltimore. You will hear me mention this quite a bit in this new feature of my newsletter. It wasn’t long before we became friends exchanging licks and talking about our guitars / toys! Rodney also has a very talented son who plays keys. One fond memory I have is when Rodney invited me to play at Lexington Market with his band, the Rodney Kelly Experience. This was a Friday lunchtime gig. Of course we did a few George Benson numbers together! Rodney is a fine guitar player and working in his debut solo CD. Check him out here! http://www.rodneykelleymus ic.com/

Thanks for reading. Have a great August!

Drew