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Billie Davies

“Billie Davies is an accomplished free-jazz drummer. There is a vitality and fluidity in the way that she plays the drum kit and this is what I mean by the idea that her stories explain her drumming; she speaks through the drums to the other players, asking questions of them and replying with the fusion of styles that she has built up over her travels” —Chris Baber, Jazz Views (Jun 30, 2016)

By 1977 Billie was working in the Private Night Club sector as a DJ in Cologne, Germany. That set the stage for a successful DJ career in Belgium a few years later, she remembers "Les Cinq Anneaux" where she packed the house every weekend. She became one of the top DJs in demand in Private Night Clubs, Disco Clubs and Bars.

Aged 25 Davies started the transition to become a professional musician.

She played and performed all over Europe, in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece for the next 7 years.

At a crossroads in her musical career, in 1984, while living and performing in the South of France (Montpellier, Toulouse, Biarritz, La Rochelle), Billie ended up receiving a grant from Max Roach to come study at Berklee College of Music, this was after he heard one of her tapes she laid down with a bass player in Montpellier, France. Billie was however having too much fun in the south of France, living the life of a gypsy jazz musician and therefore decided not to take the offer. In his words: "Hearing from your tape, you could learn more fundamental drumming techniques, but I also hear the natural drummer, so my advice is for you not to worry too much about your technical skill, you will develop your own, I can definitely hear that, but just in case that you might want to study in a good program, please accept my invitation in the form of a talent grant to come study at the Berklee College of Music, all you need to worry about is finding a place to live and some money to survive".

A move to the United States at 32 gave her an opportunity to play all over the west coast. In 1987 in Oregon, she met and played a few times with Leroy Vinegar, and then later in early 1988 she moved to California, San Francisco where she was mostly active in North Beach and in the Lower-Haight district, where she met and ended up playing a few times with John Handy and played frequently with local jazz notables at their unforgiving jams, in her words: the best learning school she ever had.

In the mid-nineties she recorded "Cobra Basemento", that included "The Man From Tollund", and "Dreams", the infamous boombox recordings, in the Bay Area. They were never commercially released but preserved for the future.

In 2009, she moved to Hollywood, California and released "all about Love." with Tom Bone Ralls and Oliver Steinberg and "12 VOLT" with Daniel Coffeng and Adam Levy and was awarded best Jazz Artist in 2013 by LAMA.

In March of 2014 she moved to New Orleans where she has released "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon", with Evan Oberla, Alex Blaine, Branden Lewis and Ed Strohsahl, "On Hollywood Boulevard" with Evan Oberla, Oliver Watkinson and Iris P and "PERSPECTIVES II" with Evan Oberla, Oliver Watkinson, Ari Kohn, Iris P and Allie Porter and was nominated "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" by 2017 Best Of The Beat Awards and OffBeat Magazine and "Best Drummer" by 2019 Best Of The Beat Awards.

Highlights

Billie Davies is an American, self-taught, natural, drummer and composer best known for her free, instinctively avant-garde compositions since the mid nineties, and her improvisational drumming techniques she has performed in Europe and in the US. All of her music is improvisational ... a conversation between musicians and musical instruments, a joint emotional expression inspired by a certain feeling, thought or perspective that is being communicated to an audience, a listener, a community. Billie Davies hails originally from Brugge, Belgium. She played and performed all over Europe until immigrating to the United States at 32, where she has been active as a musician ever since.

While living and playing in the South of France in the early 1980's, Billie received a talent grant from Max Roach to study at Berklee College of Music.

Her 2012 release of “all about Love” solidified her position as a professional jazz musician. This recording of standards and original music, charted #1 in CMJ Jazz College Radio Charts for ‘top jazz add’ in new albums and went on to stay in the top 20 for 4 weeks. Also well received in Canada, the album ended up in the Top 10 on three different !Earshot Jazz charts.

In October, 2013 Billie released “12 VOLT” which garnered national and international attention. CJ Bond, JAZZ MUSIC, wrote, “12 VOLT” features exclusively original compositions of Billie Davies, and adds the crucial tyne of 'composer/arranger' to her sterling artistic fork, augmenting fearless innovation. Jan Hocek of His Voice in Prague wrote:”Without hesitation - HIGH VOLTAGE avant-garde JAZZ - one of the most remarkable trio albums of the year!"

In 2013 Billie Davies received the "Jazz Artist of the Year" Award by the 23rd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.

In March of 2014 she moved to New Orleans where she has graced stages ever since and recorded 3 albums.

She received more attention due to a player feature in Downbeat Magazine May 2016 edition, "BILLIE DAVIES '20 Years Stronger'".

"On Hollywood Boulevard", her CD released in 12/10/2016 became a January 2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com.

December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans by 2017 Best Of The Beat Awards.

September 2018 She released "PERSPECTIVES II" by BILLIE DAVIES trio Featuring Ari Kohn, woodwinds, Iris P, vocals and Allie Porter, vocals.

December 2019 Billie Davies was nominated "Best Drummer" in New Orleans by 2019 Best Of The Beat Awards.

Late 2019 she started contributing with Damani Butler, an electronic artist and Maude Caillat a woodwind player, and they ended up recording "Whadeva" live at Dangerous Art Studios in New Orleans on Feb 13, 2020.

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9
Album Review

Billie Davies: Whadeva (Live at Dangerous Art Studios February 13, 2020)

Read "Whadeva (Live at Dangerous Art Studios February 13, 2020)" reviewed by Geno Thackara


When you think of the music of jny: New Orleans, chances are you're not imagining anything like Whadeva--semi-avant-garde improvisation with light electronics is hardly the first association that comes to anyone's mind. Nonetheless the Big Easy's personality is still clear through this freewheeling EP, which was knocked out in a Ninth Ward studio in one free-spirited day. The trio of players are all based in the city, if not lifelong natives, and they like to channel its spirit of celebration ...

2
Album Review

Billie Davies Trio: Perspectives II

Read "Perspectives II" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The spiritual jazz tradition, as exemplified by John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, has been having a resurgence over the past few years in places like Los Angeles and Great Britain. Now here is evidence that some musicians in New Orleans are going down that path as well. Billie Davies is a drummer from Belgium who now lives and works in the Big Easy and this recording, available only in download form, captures a live performance of her trio, ...

4
Album Review

Billie Davies: On Hollywood Boulevard

Read "On Hollywood Boulevard" reviewed by Budd Kopman


There could not be much more of a musical, emotional or just vibe difference than that between drummer Billie Davies' latest album On Hollywood Boulevard and her previous project, Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon. However, although they inhabit completely different worlds, both projects had a very long gestation and originate in Davies' reactions to specific events in her life, the latter to her interaction with painter Serge Vandercam, while the former to living in ...

3
Album Review

Billie Davies - A Nu Experience: On Hollywood Boulevard

Read "On Hollywood Boulevard" reviewed by Sacha O'Grady


From Buddy Rich to Billy Cobham, jazz drumming (as opposed to pop-rock) has been a predominately masculine affair, and something which perhaps remains so even to this day -which isn't to say that women are excluded from the club entirely. Drummer Billie Davies began her career in Europe, performing extensively across the continent, before immigrating to America, until eventually she made her way to New Orleans in 2014, teaming up with IRIS P (vocals), Evan Oberla (electric piano, ...

11
Album Review

Billie Davies: Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon

Read "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Free drummer Billie Davies calls Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon a symphony, which implies composition, larger planned structures, etc. Nothing like that is here, as the music was improvised and recorded in one session. However, this music is not just a free session of highly intuitive and sensitive players; it has a reason for being, and that reason is the intersection of the life paths of two artists working in different media -Davies, a musician and ...

8
Album Review

Billie Davies: Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon

Read "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" reviewed by Roger Farbey


Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon is a heartfelt homage to the artist Serge Vandercam (1924-2005) whose paintings, depicted on the inside CD cover, originally inspired this suite of collaborative improvisations. Initially the inspiration drew from a period of three days of the full moon in 1995 when the artist was influenced by the drummer's playing. For this recording in 2015, following a 20 year gestation period, the painting corresponding to each title was hanging on a ...

4
Album Review

Billie Davies: 12 Volt

Read "12 Volt" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Drummer Billie Davies' previous recording, All About Love (Self Produced, 2012) was novel and compelling, a trombone trio with the drummer lead. Davies assembled original and standard works, achieving both educational and artistic endpoints. The present recording, 12 Volt, retains the trio format, substituting the guitar for the trombone and pushes the trio envelope out with a moody collection of eight originals, when considered together comprise an avant-garde suite possibly conceived by Grant Green and John Coltrane. ...

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1

Career

Drummer, Composer Billie Davies Has Left New Orleans

Drummer, Composer Billie Davies Has Left New Orleans

Source: Billie Davies PR

After spending eight years in New Orleans and recording three albums as a leader, Billie Davies has made a permanent move to West Palm Beach, Florida. She decided it was time to return to her favorite environment in the world—the beaches at the Atlantic Ocean—in her preferred sub-tropical climate. In her words: “There is a time and a place for everything." She is thankful to the many venues that have given her the opportunity to perform including The New Orleans ...

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Recording

New Orleans Drummer Billie Davies Announces Her New Release, "Perspectives II" By Billie Davies Trio, For September 27, 2018

New Orleans Drummer Billie Davies Announces Her New Release, "Perspectives II" By Billie Davies Trio, For September 27, 2018

Source: Billie Davies PR

About Perspectives II “All of my music is improvisational... a conversation between musicians and musical instruments. A joint emotional expression inspired by a certain common feeling, thought or perspective in an instinctual, unpredictable, freely expressed improvisation exploring authentic feelings and inspirations that is being communicated to an audience, a listener, a community."—Billie Davies Perspectives II is an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and seven chakra musical keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys ...

3

Performance / Tour

Billie Davies Announces Perspectives 2 Performance At Art Klub Theatre in New Orleans On June 1

Billie Davies Announces Perspectives 2 Performance At Art Klub Theatre in New Orleans On June 1

Source: Billie Davies PR

Billie Davies Perspectives at Art Klub Theater 1941 Arts Street jny: New Orleans, LA 70117 June 1, 2018 at 8 pm $18 general admission $15 for artists seniors students teachers Perspectives II Billie Davies announces her Perspectives project finale performance, “Perspectives II”. The performance will be recorded live for sound by Mike Davies and video filmed by Marion Hill and her team and will be produced as a digital only release (music) and Digital ...

4

Recording

Billie Davies - A Nu Experience - A New Direction In New Orleans

Billie Davies - A Nu Experience - A New Direction In New Orleans

Source: Billie Davies PR

After 20 years of playing, producing and releasing instrumental jazz, Billie Davies is turning a page and is bringing us a Nu Vocal and Electric Experience, On Hollywood Boulevard. Billie Davies' 2012 release of All About Love solidified her position as a professional jazz musician. This recording of standards and original music, charted #1 in CMJ Jazz College Radio Charts for ‘top jazz add’ in new albums and went on to stay in the top 20 for 4 weeks. “all ...

7

Recording

"Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" - Drummer Billie Davies With Art Inspired By Music, Music Inspired By Art!

"Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon"  - Drummer Billie Davies With Art Inspired By Music, Music Inspired By Art!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Billie Davies' Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon Inspired by Artist Serge Vandercam Drummer Billie Davies pays homage to Danish-born Belgian artist Serge Vandercam in this exciting free-form adventure. Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon is a musical symphony inspired by Vandercam's exquisite creations. Davies says it is, “The painter influenced by the drummer and the drummer influenced by the painter over a period of three days of the full moon." Born in Belgium ...

Billie Davies has been nominated "Best Drummer" for the Best Of The Beat Awards 2019. The OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation’s Best of the Beat Nominations are in. We solicited nominations from musicians and many others in the music community. We then gave the results to our writers and editors and with input from both, determined the nominations in each category. Click here to vote! The public starts voting on December 26 at OffBeat.com and voting ends on January 15. Winners will be announced at the Best of the Beat, which will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Market on Thursday January 30. This is the second time that Billie has been nominated for her exceptional talent since she has moved to New Orleans. The 2017 Best Of The Beat awards nominated her for Best Contemporary Jazz Artist. Billie would like to express her sincere thanks for the recognition. HER MUSIC IS IT'S OWN ORIGINAL BEAST Billie Davies is an American jazz drummer and composer best known for her free and avant-garde jazz compositions since the mid-1990s, and her improvisational drumming techniques. The music of BILLIE DAVIES line-ups moves beyond Jazz with it's own unique and truly improvisational style "...reminding us sometimes of many different things but in the end, it is its own original beast, as powerful as anything more well-known musicians have created.. Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz". On her latest album: PERSPECTIVES II BILLIE DAVIES TRIO REVIEWED IN JAZZ VIEWS “Given the melting pot that New Orleans continues to be for jazz, it is not surprising that Davies has based herself here, nor that the musicians she gathers around her are not easy to pigeon-hole into one style of jazz (or even one style of music in any wider sense). This is another very successful experiment by Davies in mining the creative depths of improvised music making, producing a sound that cannot be simply labelled as jazz (even if it fully has the swing of jazz in all of the pieces brought by Davies and Watkinson in their dynamic partnership) and which really does respond to the cosmic dimensions of its inspiration.” - Chris Baber, Jazz Views (May, 2019)

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Pharoah Sanders
saxophone, tenor
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto
Miles Davis
trumpet
Charlie Haden
bass, acoustic
Sun Ra
piano
Max Roach
drums

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Whadeva (Live at...

Self Produced
2020

buy

Perspectives II

Self Produced
2018

buy

On Hollywood Boulevard

Self Produced
2016

buy

Hand In Hand In The...

Cobra Basement
2015

buy

12 VOLT

Cobra Basement
2013

buy

All About Love

Self Produced
2012

buy

Whadeva 3

From: Whadeva (Live at Dangerous Art...
By Billie Davies

Art

From: Perspectives II
By Billie Davies

Palm Trees

From: On Hollywood Boulevard
By Billie Davies

The Girl In The Window

From: On Hollywood Boulevard
By Billie Davies

v. The Shark In The Hand

From: Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The...
By Billie Davies

Videos

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