Aaron Davis

Tenor saxophone.

Originally from Kansas City, Davis was considered by Jabo Ward to be one the top tenor sax man in town. Jimmy Rowles likened Davis’ style to Lester Young’s and jammed with him the first night the young pianist came to Seattle, in 1937, at the Black and Tan. In the late ’30s Davis was with Palmer Johnson’s sextet at the Congo Club, which also included Junior Raglin, and appeared on the big Metropolian Theatre concert in 1940, as well. In 1944, Davis was at Basin Street with Leon Vaughn’s band. Davis was said to have gone mad trying to get the “atomic” note out of his horn after Hiroshima.

Jackson Street After Hours (print). No known online links.