Daily Inspiration: Meet Calvin Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvin Davis.

Hi Calvin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started playing music at a young age and by the time I was in middle school I knew that I wanted to be a professional percussionist. I transferred to Denver School of The Arts in eighth grade and was immersed in the possibilities of playing music. I dabbled in classical percussion, but eventually found my passion playing drum set- in particular, jazz.

I continued my studies of music at the University of Oregon, learning about composition and performance from masters Steve Owen and Gary Hobbs. Since Graduating in 2018, I have moved back to Denver to experience the depth of the musical community. I stay busy playing in various ensembles performing in a variety of settings. I co-direct The Pet-Friendly Jazz Collective with my guitarist colleague, Sam Valdez, where we bring jazz music to our community, playing regular porch concerts, at a local bakery, and then at other more traditional venues. Recently The Pet-Friendly Jazz Collective performed a tribute concert to one of our favorite composers, Joe Henderson, at Colorado Sake CO featuring a full 8-piece jazz ensemble. As well as playing with The Pet-Friendly Jazz Collective, I also play with an experimental trio called Seahorses Forever, and with award-winning Americana singer/songwriter – Andy Sydow. I am always on the lookout for new music and new opportunities.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The greatest challenge of all has been finding a way to use my creative passion to stimulate a liveable source of income. At first, I thought that I would be able to make it happen by playing in enough groups, enough nights a week. While I know some people who do this, the pandemic proved that to be unstable and therefore unsustainable. Since 2020, I have learned that it is important to be versatile, not only in the styles of music I play but in where my income comes from. Nowadays I teach around 20 students weekly, which has made living a lot more possible without a side job.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My main goal as a musician is to give the music the energy and breath that it calls for. Often jazz musicians have the tendency to play too many notes and often drummers have the tendency to play too loud. When I sit down at the drums, I find the most joy in playing the notes that the music calls for at the volume that the room calls for.

What are your plans for the future?
As the inevitable future approaches, I know that my love and passion for music will not wither. I plan on playing as much music as possible, in as many different forms as possible. I hope that The Pet-Friendly Jazz Collective will continue to thrive and perform regularly.

Contact Info:

• Website: Calvindavisdrums.com/petfriendly
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvindavisdrums/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Calvindavisdrums
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE0XPyASVqGYtenf61-734g
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/calvindavisdrums 

Image Credits
Randy Brown Mathilde Moine Gab Kaplan