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Long Highway 4:100:00/4:10
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Promises 4:170:00/4:17
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0:00/5:48
Jason Davis is a NY guitarist, songwriter, and music professor who has written music for programs such as "SNL", "WWE Raw", "SportsCenter", and others. His pop/rock sensibilities, acrobatic guitar antics, and idiosyncratic sense of humor are on full display on his latest album, Guitar Flambe!
"Proof positive that guitar rock is alive and well. Jason is a great guitar player who knows how to serve the song and still hang ten. "
- Reeves Gabrels, (The Cure, David Bowie)
"Jason Davis has that rare quality of musicianship with pop sensibility. His tunes are well crafted - melodic and hooky without being too predictable - and he's not afraid to throw in a face-melting solo for good measure! An intriguing musician for sure."
- Joe Naylor, founder of Railhammer Pickups
"Jason's new record kills! It's chock full of excellent guitar playing that he uses to emphasize his songwriting skills, not just carry them."
- Ken Haas, CEO of Reverend Guitars
"(Davis) has managed to seamlessly fuse classic rock with progressive rock, standing on the shoulders of giants and thinking, “Okay, now what?” And he never rests on his own merit...he just keeps shooting more and more at you, every riff, bridge, or solo better than the last, always fresh, always different, always pushing forward."
- Nicholas Priore, The Fuze Magazine
Reflecting on the past, guitarist/songwriter Jason Davis would probably categorize much of his previous music as being on the serious side of rock. “I somehow got it in my head that I had to play music that, at times, challenged the listener or at least tried to come across as more cerebral and different. I thought by doing so, I would be considered a ‘legit’ musician and get the stamp of approval from my peers. It was still rock…just not something that you'd play at backyard barbecues or your favorite sporting event.
I started to ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I decided that I just wanted to unwrinkle my forehead and play fun music again.”
Davis' latest album, Guitar Flambé!, finds him doing just that. In place of dramatic textures and melancholy lyrics exist arena rock riffs and themes concerning romantic mishaps and blunders (“Love & Misery”), the electric power of rock 'n roll (“Live Wire Swing”), and odd-toed ungulates (“Ok…Who Let the Rhino In?”). While Davis tips his hat to the songwriters and artists that have influenced him over the years, the music is never derivative, always injected with his idiosyncratic spin. His acrobatic guitar skills are ever-present but in a more playful and concise manner. He even throws in a Kelly Clarkson cover to boot!
Davis has been fortunate as an independent artist with many of his songs having appeared in television and cable programs such as “Saturday Night Live”, “WWE Raw”, “Dancing with the Stars”, and “The Tonight Show”. He has performed and toured with artists as diverse as Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie), Clay Aiken, and Cee-Lo Green. Artist relationships include Reverend Guitars, Railhammer Pickups, Supro/Pigtronix, and Source Audio. As an in-demand session guitarist, Davis has guested on various artists' recordings as well as played for stage productions such as ”School of Rock", “Newsies”, and “The Addams Family”.
Recorded primarily during the events of 2020-21, Guitar Flambé! finds Davis handling much of the instrumental and vocal duties as well as production. "Lyrically, the album falls into two general categories: relationships and a love for music", Davis explains. "It's all pretty positive. I really have a great life, so there's no point in writing about murking my way through the doldrums." The only song where the lyrics color outside of the lines is "Complain", a tongue-in-cheek mashup of early-80s metal and commentary on the grumblings of today's society. "With all the goings-on in the world, why do we find ourselves getting so upset about having to wait in the drive-through line? This is my cantankerous side sneaking out. That's what happens with age (laughs)." Davis also salutes his generation with the song "1973". "It's a celebration of the incredible things that occurred the year I was born...mostly the bands and recordings released that year. I threw an Archie Bunker reference in just because I remember my great-grandfather watching 'All In The Family' when I was a wee lad, and so I felt the need to acknowledge it. A secret talent of mine is my mean imitation of Edith."
“An artist always wants their audience to appreciate what they’re doing, but you have to love it first and make yourself happy. Listening back to these tracks puts a smile on my face.”
Fuze Magazine
Premier Guitar
"My pedalboard changes as often as the attention of an 18-month golden retriever..." more
Pittsburgh Tribune
"With a passion for music spanning his entire career, Jason Davis of Utica, NY, got his start thanks to perseverance and ramen noodles..." more
Publicity Wire
"NBA Rhythm 'N Rims presented by Sprite hits the road across the United States..." more
Pittsburgh City Paper (Album Review)...more
Utica Observer-Dispatch...more