Nathan Davis

Nathan Davis was a renowned US jazz saxophone player, composer, and arranger. He played all the reed instruments and was also skilled in playing the flügelhorn. Born on February 15, 1937, in Kansas City, Kansas, he dedicated his life to music until his passing on April 8, 2018, in Palm Beach, Florida.

After serving in the US Army, Davis decided to stay in Europe where he lived on the Left Bank in Paris from 1963 to 1969. He then returned to the United States and joined the University of Pittsburgh as Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies. With a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, Davis became an influential figure as head of the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to his instrumental skills and teaching career, Nathan Davis was a prolific composer and arranger. He authored 'Writings In Jazz', a comprehensive analysis of jazz history and development. Throughout his musical journey, he collaborated with various artists and founded both the University of Pittsburgh's annual Jazz Seminar and the first incarnation of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra.