Joe Davis - Oklahoma saxophone legend, performing with OCU Jazz Band in Spring 1988 Video 2 of 2

Joe Davis was a legendary saxophonist and jazz educator in Oklahoma! While in High School at Yukon in the mid-80's, I was recruited by Larry Skinner, the jazz band director at Oklahoma City University at the time, to play lead alto because they didn't have enough college saxophonists. As a result, I had the opportunity to meet Joe and take some lessons from him. It was this experience with Mr. Davis that made me decide to pursue a career as a saxophonist. He was not only an exceptional musician, but also an exceptional human being.

Joe headed the jazz program at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. As a result of his dedication and hard work, Dr. Roger Webb, then president at NSU, built a unique performing venue in downtown for Joe's program called the "NSU Jazz Lab" in 1993. Very sadly Joe passed away in 1995 after a battle with cancer.

Two year later Dr. Webb became president at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Almost immediately he became interested in helping Dr. Kent Kidwell, founder of the jazz program at UCO, to build a similar venue to what he had created for Joe Davis. In January 2002 the UCO Jazz Lab opened its doors for the first time. This was also the day I went to work full-time for UCO at the new facility. They call the NSU Jazz Lab "Joe's Place", and I also think of the UCO Jazz Lab as "Joe's Place" because without his dedication, talent, and love for music, neither Jazz Lab would have ever been built.

I've been unable to find even one video of the great Joe Davis online. It is my sincere hope these videos will help to memorialize Joe and also so others can hear him play. Sorry for the low quality video and audio - this VHS tape was almost 26 years old. If you have a story about Joe, please share!

Thanks, Brian Gorrell

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