Byron Davis makes musical homecoming

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By David Burke | Wednesday, July 2, 2008 3:14 PM CDT | () comments

Nine years after last officially playing in the Quad-Cities, Rock Island native Byron Davis is returning for two performances over the next two Wednesdays at Nan’s Piano Bar in the Freight House, downtown Davenport.

Now living in Sarasota, Fla., the singer-pianist is returning to the area for performances with jazz groups at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and will trek up to the Quad-Cities for the two gigs.

The 48-year-old Davis recently performed for a live recording with Tampa, Fla., community radio station WMNF-FM (streaming at WMNF.org). He and guitarist Rashid Darby are playing selections from Davis’ album, “Smooth Jazz International.” The album is available at CDBaby.com under Davis’ stage name, B.K.

“International” is the key for Davis, who will be touring Abu Dhabi and Japan, as well as playing for eight months beginning later this summer on cruise ships touring the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as visiting the Bahamas.

“I’m trying to give more people around the globe a fresh introduction to jazz from our country,” he said in a telephone interview.