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Jason Davis Sr.
Electronic Press Kit
"Jason Davis Sr. is a Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, two-time Emmy-featured performer, and a premier contender in the Melodic Rap landscape. Fusing definitive jazz mastery with geographic sound installations, he commands an open-ended New York residency, a massive global fanbase, and over 400 million video views worldwide."
Jason Davis Sr. is a premier Dallas-born saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, author, and geographic sound installation creator whose legendary career spans over three decades of groundbreaking music history. A Grammy winner for his foundational work on a song called “Stomp” with God’s Property, a featured performer on two Emmy-winning programs with The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), and highly praised across major press legacy outlets including the Dallas Morning News and Buddy Magazine, Mr. Davis is a master of sonic evolution. Holding a permanent, open-ended 6-day residency at the Williamsburg Music Center in New York, and having achieved first-round Grammy consideration for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his original composition "where shadows fall," Mr. Davis continues to command an immense global draw on the world's most prestigious stages.
To understand the heartbeat of American music innovation, you have to look through the lens of Jason Davis Sr. For over thirty years, he has been an essential force in keeping the spirit of live instrumentation thriving while aggressively pushing cultural boundaries.
His industry pedigree is undeniable. Mr. Davis is a Grammy Award winner for his work on the historic, multi-platinum 1997/1998 phenomenon God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation. His mastery has also been an anchor for The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), performing in two separate Emmy Award-winning television programs. Recognized as a premier force by authoritative tastemakers, his work has been widely celebrated across legacy press. He was featured on the front page of Buddy Magazine with an extensive back-cover story by Tim Schuller documenting his profound influence on the Texas circuit. Additionally, the Dallas Morning News has repeatedly highlighted his pioneering work, spotlighting his direction of the 20-piece Dallas Jazz Collective at City Performance Hall, as well as his conversion-based discipline art form, Huesic.
Davis’s television and recording legacy stretches back to the very infancy of major Black music broadcasting. He has graced screens nationwide on iconic platforms, including The Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion on BET, the WGN Morning Show in Chicago, and the legendary Soul Train stage alongside Don Cornelius. Throughout his decorated career, he has lent his distinct, soulful instrumental voice to an astonishing array of global heavyweights, including Prince, Erykah Badu, Pieces of a Dream, The Impressions, and street-rap legend MO3.
An established pillar in the jazz capital of the world, Mr. Davis holds a coveted, open-ended 6-day residency at the legendary Williamsburg Music Center in New York City. It was here that he famously produced, directed, and promoted the historic Red Garland 100th Birthday Celebration, cementing his reputation as a master curator of live jazz heritage.
Beyond traditional performance spaces, Mr. Davis is a visionary creator of geographical public art and national monuments. Notably, he designed and executed the celebrated interactive wind chime installation at the University of California, Irvine, positioned right outside the Cultural Exposition Museum. Whether creating landmark environmental soundscapes, teaching at the Roy Hargrove Summer Camp, or authoring his acclaimed book How I Met Jazz, Davis treats music as a living, breathing history.
Today, Mr. Davis is leading live instrumentation into the future. His original, genre-bending composition "where shadows fall" secured a coveted first-round Grammy consideration placement for Best Melodic Rap Performance, sharing the ballot with Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Drake, and JID. Live on stage, he brilliantly synthesizes these worlds, matching the complex improvisational genius of elite jazz with the raw, street-level poetry of modern melodic rap to create an unforgettable, high-energy environment. His recording catalog out of Dallas has built an immense, dedicated fanbase overseas since 1991, with his various video and media appearances generating over 400 million views globally. Combined with an Honorable Mention at the Athens International Film Festival in Greece, Jason Davis Sr. remains an unparalleled, high-value global draw who bridges the gap between legendary heritage and future-forward innovation.
Press Quotes & Critical Acclaim
"The Dallas Jazz Collective, led by saxophonist Jason Davis, showcased more than 20 stellar musicians..."
— Thor Christensen, The Dallas Morning News
"Offers some great sax playing by Jason Davis, the kind that makes you stand up and go, 'Yeah!'"
— Bob Soergel, Smooth Jazz Vibes
"Featured on the front page of Buddy Magazine with back page cover story..."
— Buddy Magazine (September Feature Issue by Tim Schuller)
Notable Highlights & Industry Pedigree
* Grammy Award Winner: Featured multi-instrumentalist on the legendary, multi-platinum God’s Property album project.
* Open-Ended NYC Residency: Features an open-ended, permanent 6-day residency at the historic Williamsburg Music Center in New York.
* Concert Producer & Promoter: Produced and directed the acclaimed Red Garland 100th Birthday Celebration concert series in New York City.
* Geographical Art Creator: Designer of major national public monuments and installations, including the wind chime sound installation at UC Irvine's National Monument Project.
* Two-Time Emmy Performance Credits: Featured performer on two Emmy Award-winning television programs produced with The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL).
* Grammy Recognition: Achieved official first-round ballot consideration for Best Melodic Rap Performance for the original track "where shadows fall," competing in the same elite field that produced nominees Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Drake.
* Iconic Television History: Played on Soul Train with Don Cornelius, BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion, and Chicago’s WGN Morning Show.
* Elite Collaborations: Recorded, performed, and worked alongside Prince, Erykah Badu, Pieces of a Dream, The Impressions, Roy Hargrove, and MO3.
* Award-Winning Film Score: Received an Honorable Mention at the 2026 Athens International Film Festival in Greece for cinematic composition with filmmaker Crystal Manning.
* Published Author: Author of the widely respected educational and historical book, How I Met Jazz.
Booking & Contact Information
* Direct Booking: 214-545-8817 | jasondavisjazz@yahoo.com
* Location: Dallas, Texas / New York, New York
* Official Socials:
* Website: jasondavislive.com
* Instagram: instagram.com/southdallasjason
* YouTube: youtube.com/@JasonDavisJazz
* TikTok: tiktok.com/@texastea
Performance History
1984 Performance for County Commissioner John Wiley Price @ MLK Library/ Dallas Public Library Cable Television Recording
1985 Solo Clarinet performance for Mrs. Pearl C. Anderson
1987 Alto Saxophone solo for Dallas Native and NBA legend Spud Webb
1992 Trammel Crow Scholarship @ Arts Jazz Festival/ Daniel Chappie James Elementary ground breaking parade
1993 Loyola Jazz Festival All Star Band/ Bobby Jones Gospel Television Appearances/ attends Weatherford College/African American Museum ground breaking
1994 Lead alto sax in the Texas All-State Jr. College Band/ Woodwind Specialist O.W. Holmes Classical Academy/ Private Teacher @Lincoln High School/ Musician @ Peoples Baptist Church
1995 Attended Texas College in Tyler Texas (student teacher)/ Performances with East Texas All-stars and Prof. James Williams Sr.
1996 / Joins Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
1997 Performed on Cruise Ships in the Eastern and Western Caribbean / Who's Who on American College Campuses
1998 Performs live on the Soultrain Music Awards with Kirk Franklin/ Works as Teachers Assistant at Pearl C. Anderson in Music Department (choir/ piano/ band & strings)
1999 Teaches Woodwind at Town View Magnet Summer Camp/ Performs for Dick Gregory Speech in Tyler, TX.
2000 performs with Jeannette Brantley New-years on top of the Adams Mark
2001 Records at the South Dallas Cultural Center/ Created Husic as a discipline and practice/ Plays Artfest with Trumpet Great Roy Hargrove
2002 Performs with Erykah Badu, Common and Talib Kweli at Bronco Bowl
2003 Opens for David "fathead" Newman/ Taste of Dallas
2004 Becomes First Jazz musician in residence at the South Side on Lamar Lofts/ Performs at Bass Hall/ opens for Roy Ayers/ Democratic Presidential Debate/Records with Pieces of a Dream
2005 / meets Maceo Parker/ Completes 800 page Symphonic Work for full Orchestra/ Records with Sounds of Philly Drummer Charles Collins/releases his first Instrumental music workbook/ Opens the Main Street Arts Festival in Ft. Worth with his own quintet
2006 Launches an independent Record Label called Flip Flop Records
2007 Produces, Records and Releases the children Literacy based project called Read with Keith Price for Earning by Learning/ Performs, records and broadcast live at the New Orleans Jazz Festival with legendary guitarist Lucky Peterson/ Commissioned to arrange music for the Historically Black College Football video game BCFX / Appears with Cas Haley on the NFL Dallas Cowboys Half time Show on Opening Day/ Potter's House FLO Conference with TD Jakes
2008 Performs for the National Association of Negro Musicians Luncheon/performs with Edwin Holt and the East Texas Symphony/Performs with Pianist Kim Jordan for The Deltas Founders Day @ JBAAL/Co Produces the Jam Box CD with Mahogany and Opens for Jazz in Pink (all female Jazz Group) in San Diego/ Complete a rough draft of his first "short film-musical. Performs with Raul Valdez for "The Women of Color Awards" Hilton Anatole
2009 Special guest artist for AKA Sorority Cache Pageant (BAAL), Hosts the Project Jazz Jam, Washington-Lincoln Alumni National Convention, Co-Founds The IPAL Network with Carlton Cooper, Deep Ellum Art's Festival, Musician Hill Chapel CME Church. Feature as soloist with Edwin Holt and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. New Years Eve with Saxophonist Marion Meadows featured with Mahogany.
2010 Special Guest @ National Association of Negro Musicians Awards Luncheon with Saxophonist and Entrepreneur Rod Davenport (Mr. D's Music), Launches The Jason Davis Jazz Website, Performances with Saxophone Great Mike Phillips, Sax Clinician @ Yvonne Ewell Townview Magnet Summer Jazz Camp, Jazz Master Class with Trumpet Great and Jazz Legend Roy Hargrove for D.I.S.D. students, Opening Performance for Saxophone Master Kirk Whalum in Ft. Worth, Juneteenth @ The African American Museum, Recorded with Geno Young on The "Ear Hustler" CD, Music Director for The Motown-Vegas Night Show in Dallas, Performs @ The Dallas Museum of Art with Mahogany & The Jam Box Band, Performs at University of Texas at Dallas with Vocalist Carmen Rogers, Performs for the Washington-Lincoln Alumni Association Scholarship Concert at The South Dallas Cultural Center, Composes a Gospel Music CD, Promoter for the All-Star Saxophone Summit with over 25 local performers involved, Performs with his new Jazz Trio, Co-Creates The "Up To Par Jazz" Concert with Mahogany @ Cedar Crest Golf Course which featured Roy Hargrove, Victor Cager, Bobby Tompkins and many more, Love Field Airport Black History Luncheon with The Tuskegee Airmen, Plays a Tribute to Theolonius Monk alongside Legendary Pianist and Organist Robert Clayton Sanders,
(Carlton & Maurice Turner), Tamara Peterson and Shaun Martin's Go Geaux Band.
2011 Creates the "Stage Band South" 16 piece Big Band, Performs with Stage Band South at the South Dallas Cultural Center Juneteenth Celebration and 25th year Anniversary, Conducts Stage Band South @ the House of Blues in Dallas, Opens The Black Academy of Arts and Letters 35th season, Receives artist residencies at both The South Dallas Cultural Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Featured on the front page of Buddy Magazine with back page cover story by Tim Schuller (September Issue), Special Guest Soloist @ Full Gospel Holy Temple Christmas Program, Celebrates the Centennial celebration of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity with a Big Band Tribute to Count Basie, Releases 4 CD projects in Digital format, Serves as a member of the City Performance Hall rental guidelines task-force team, Performs for Omegas Achievement Week @ Southern Methodist University, Performs in the First Annual Natural Hair Parade in Dallas created by Isis Brantley, Co-hosts the Sunday Night Jazz 101 jam session @ Buttons with Mahogany, Plays saxophone in concert on Newyears Eve with Soul singer Leela James and Hip Hop legend Doug E. Fresh @ The Omni Hotel in Dallas.
2012 - 2018 Ft. Worth Blues Festival with Mel Waiters. Technical Assistant to AFRO-HORN ensemble. Records with R.C. Williams and the Gritz. First Jazz Concert at the Moody Performance Hall. Records with Shaun Martin and 7 Summers CD. Releases his entire catalog on the Dallas Track Factory Label. Starts rehearsing his own band. Focuses on writing a live show. Records Live Radio Broadcast for WRR Classical Radio. (Vicki Meek Jazz Hour). Music Director for Diverse Lounge. Performs a Tribute To Charlie Parker with The Odysseus Orchestra. Records on Albums by R.C. and the Gritz, Eric Roberson, Dem Southern and Ashley Smith. Begins to promote his own events in Texas, Louisiana and Colorado music venues. Begins recording his new CD with his new band. Scheduled to release a full CD with the music that he loves.
PRESENTLY: Jazz Ambassador at Jazz BeCuzz Art Center, Featured with Melanie Fiona and The Emmy Award Winning TBAAL Choir. Completes a 5 song EP of Original Funk Jazz, Currently writing a book called "How I Met Jazz". Producing music videos for his songs. Releasing music independently.
MUSICIAN (SIDEMAN) with= Melanie Fiona, Rhonda Ross, Leela James, Sandra Kaye, Jeannette Brantley, Emily King, The East Texas All-stars, The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield's Band), Cuba Godding Sr., Dwele, Onzy Matthews Big Band, Laney Mc Donald, Paul Salos Big Band, Robert Sanders Big Band, Roger Boykin, George Florence, Lucky Peterson, Edwin Holt and The East Texas Symphony, Ben Adkins, Big Jack Williams and the Conspiracy Band, W.A. Richardson and The Jazz Evolutionist, Shaun Martins Go-Go Band, Mike Phillips and Claude Johnson
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