International Jazz Musician Richard Davis Shares Experience With Young Artists

Richard Davis is internationally known as one of the best jazz musicians in the world. What some may not know about Richard is how much of his time he devotes to mentoring up-and-coming artists. Tag along to see how this music legend seeks to inspire Wisconsin youth.

For more on Richard, his students and his peers, check out these web extras:

• Hiwot Adilow’s poem, with Richard playing along, shows a student’s capacity to learn and a teacher’s hope for the future.
• Following the news that Richard Davis had received the NEA Jazz Master award, his UW performance class drew 3 times the usual numbers.
• Born 1930, Chicago, Richard Davis was inspired by Ben Webster’s sax solos in Duke Ellington’s orchestra. 
• Taylor Scott (a junior First Wave scholar from Baton Rouge) recites her poem “Freedom” as Richard Davis accompanies her on bass.
• Richard Davis introduces a new vocal talent from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s faculty, Jessie Hauck.

Joe Astrouski

Joe Astrouski is a reporter for the “Wisconsin Life” project who travels the state, telling the stories of people and their passions. In his spare time, Joe enjoys fishing, hiking and eating his way across the Midwest with his wife, Charity.  Astrouski is a reporter, field producer and narrator for “Wisconsin...