Davenport Native Byron “BK” Davis Returns to “J.A.M.” Saturday Night
It’s so appropriate that Steinway International Artist Byron “BK” Davis will perform at Joy Avenue Media on Saturday at 7 p.m. for its online “J.A.M.” sessions.
Davis and his band performed a Joy Avenue online show last Nov. 7.
Because the super friendly 61-year-old Davenport native – a globally acclaimed pianist, composer, and singer – spreads joy wherever he goes.
After his first appearance playing for the Bettendorf Joy Avenue studio session this past November, Davis brings his passionate jazz band back on Facebook for a free show, co-sponsored by Davenport-based River Music Experience.
The J.A.M. sessions are intended to present high-quality, free livestreams of the best Q-C bands, providing safe live music to our community. You can tune in Saturday at www.facebook.com/joyavenuemedia.
Davis’s hands on the keys of a Steinway piano.
And to see past streams, like and subscribe to the Joy Avenue Media YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kcjWGxTQV8m2LZJOuOCUw.
Davis – who has been a Steinway International Artist since 2012, the first such African-American artist in Iowa – now lives in Burlington, Iowa (after many years in Gulfport Beach, Fla.). He’s spent much of the past year writing new music, which he’s performing in what he calls his “Invisible Secret Concert Series,” which debuted in November.
“The pandemic has given me a wonderful opportunity write music, to compose, to arrange,” Davis said recently. “I’ve got a ton of music I’ve written.”
“For all of us experiencing coronavirus worldwide, we need something to hold on to, give us direction in a time that is directionless,” he said. “We need comfort — all of us do. We need to know that’s gonna be OK. We need inspiration. That’s what the Invisible Secret Concert Series is
Davis will play for the Piano Celebration at NorthPark Mall at 1 p.m. both April 17 and 18.
about, about — positivity, a positive message.
“It’s about concentration. When the world is spinning, revolving so fast around us, we can’t seem to get our balance,” Davis said. “We need to concentrate and we need something fixed, that will anchor us.
“And for many of us, it’s something very positive, we need to find that one thing to concentrate on, let that positivity guide us,” he said. “This pandemic is touching every single life on the planet, and one of the nice things about struggles in life – is that while we’re going through the struggle, it may not seem that pleasant.
“When we’re out on the other end, we look back, we reflect, we ponder and gee whiz, look at what I learned from that,” Davis said. “We have
Bassist Brent-Anthony Johnson and saxophonist Dave Sharp perform last November.
to recognize the storm will be over pretty soon. The sun will shine, but the key is to have the concentration – whether before the storm, during or after the storm. We have to have the concentration that will give us the direction, if we hold on to it.”
Music is that concentration for him.
“It gives me the opportunity to explore my thoughts, explore my feelings,” Davis said. “I love writing, because there are many different angles and viewpoints we can write about. You can write about anything. The wonderful thing about the creative aspects of writing, it allows you to explore the universe through this vehicle.”
For over 21 years, Davis has entertained audiences around the world with his smooth blend of jazz, blues and R&B, including two years in Central America in recent years.
Davis, who grew up in Davenport, last played the Redstone Room in 2015.
He has been writing and performing music for 40 years. Davis was raised in a musical household in Davenport. His father, Bishop Ezekiel Davis, conscripted him as a teen to serve as musical director for the seven churches he oversaw, while his mother, Rose Davis, an accomplished vocalist, attended to his vocal and instrumental training.
BK plays more than a dozen instruments, including piano, guitar, organ and drums in idioms spanning jazz, R&B, gospel, soul, and pop. He has written theme music and jingles for the Boy Scouts of America and an Indianapolis 500 race, and has directed choirs throughout the Midwest and West Coast.
Davis has played or toured with artists including B.B. King, Billy Preston, Gerald Albright, Michael “Patches” Stewart and the late soul legend, Johnnie Taylor. He co-wrote original music with rock and roll legend Little Richard, as well as McFadden and Whitehead.
Being a Steinway International Artist – among the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Diana Krall and Lang Lang – is a true honor, meaning more than he just plays on the preeminent Steinway brand of pianos, Davis said.
“You have to have performed and/or recorded on Steinways globally. Another is, you have to have a large body of work,” he said of original compositions. “You’re vetted worldwide.”
“Prior to 2012, honestly, I was booked quite heavily, was booked all the time, and would actively go out and either look for bookings or sign with a production company,” Davis said. “Once I became a Steinway International Artist, the first African-American artist from Iowa — what that did for me, I never really had to look for a gig again. That is the honest-to-God truth. I have played Steinway concert halls all over the country.”
An accomplished band to “JAM” with
Davis said he’s honored to have East Moline native Brent-Anthony Johnson as his bassist and musical director. The Saturday night lineup also includes guitarist Greg Smith, saxophonist Dave Sharp, keyboardist Kellen Myers and percussionist Wes Julien. There also will be a surprise guest vocalist.
In 2012, BK Davis was named the first African-American Steinway International Artist from Iowa.
Of Julien, Davis said: “He like is rhythm, he’s the timekeeper. I say Wes Julien travels in time; he’s like so cool.”
Davis raved both about Johnson’s musical and management skills. “It’s just unbelievable,” he said. “What I did not know about Brent, he’s a fabulous administrator and a good partner to have on the team. Without Brent, it would be a different kind of ball game. Brent really ratches the entire program up.”
“I’m just so fortunate to have a talented team that I have, especially with Brent,” Davis said. “I’m not kidding. The thing is, with this terrific team of musicians, we are really in a special place musically. Our mindsets, we’ve got concentrations we need to deliver the goal here.”
He also credited Dustin Cobb and Joy Avenue Media in the quality of their audio and video – “They do it as good as anybody in the country that I’ve seen,” Davis said.
Johnson said the J.A.M. sessions are important also to show the diversity of Q-C musicians, including jazz and R & B, and the amount of original music being done. Though the Facebook series encourages viewers to offer tips and donations for artists, Davis and Johnson said they’re really not doing this for money.
“We are supporting our community and everyone affected by the coronavirus pandemic,” Davis said. “It has constricted our economies,
Davis performing at the Joy Avenue studio in November 2020.
constricted our communities. People are going through untold things, people left without jobs, all types of people, and we are here to send a message of inspiration, hope, direction, comfort.
“We’re in a fortunate way, and we’re able to reach out and give back in this way,” he said, noting they played in a March 6 fundraiser, “The Big Tip,” held at QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island, to support the local service industry.
“That once again, it encapsulates BK’s heart for the area,” Johnson said of that benefit. “It’s really kind of a cool thing, to be part of that.”
“BK is a great guy, he loves this area, he loves the Quad-Cities people,” he said. “As musicians, live bands are just beginning to play again.”
Johnson, 56, is a teacher, music publisher, recording and live performance bassist, with over 30 years experience.
“As far as community blessing, we can call upon people who believe in this thing. We don’t need anyone to give us anything for what we’re doing,” he said of Saturday’s gig. “We’re some of the few musicians who are being taken care of. We have some pretty wonderful gifts.”
Davis said their concert series also will grow to a symphony orchestra, including eight strings, four brass and four winds. They’re not sure how often they will perform. Their band also will be available to play private corporate functions.
Davis’s last Redstone Room show at RME was in September 2015, in a Stevie Wonder tribute. He’s also written his own memoir, “Ivory Towers,” which you can order through Family Heritage Publishers.
Playing as part of “Piano Celebration”
Davis also is scheduled to play a Steinway grand on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 (1 p.m. both days) at NorthPark Mall, Davenport.
That’s part of the Piano Celebration for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois (RMHC-EIWI), through a
Davis and his band will perform in the Joy Avenue Media “J.A.M. Sessions” series Saturday at 7 p.m.
partnership with Piano for a Richer Life and piano teachers of Eastern Iowa and the Quad-Cities.
The Piano Celebration features celebrity pianists, high-achieving student pianists, piano teacher studios, living room performers, musicians and vocalists. Piano students and participants raise money and then showcase their piano talent while spreading the word that Piano Study = Brain Development. At the event, free-will donations are accepted throughout both days at information tables located outside of Dillard’s, the Food Court and J.C. Penney.
The money that is raised at Piano Celebration by the students and the donations taken during the event go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (RMHC-EIWI).
Since its conception in 2003, the annual Piano Celebration has raised over $430,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
Founded in 1985, RMHC-EIWI provides care and comfort to children and their families by supporting the 31-room “home-away-from-home” Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City. Additional programs include a Ronald McDonald Family Room at UnityPoint Health, St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, and a Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Food Pantry at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
You can see Davis’ November 2020 J.A.M. session HERE, and to take part in the Saturday 7 p.m. J.A.M. Session, click HERE.
