Being Such As You

Walter Davis Jr. - A Being Such As You An unmissable solo piano by the acknowledged heir to Bud Powel's pianism. Davis turned up at the studio with a list his own originals and jazz standards, and he and Veschi chose nine titles. Throughout, his bebop roots are apparent - "I don't think I could wash that out of me" - as is the intensity of Bud Powell. But he had always been open to other influences, including modalism (as he shows on Milestones, and modal elements in his own 'Backgammon'), Latin rhythms and the knotty complexities of Thelonious Monk. What is clear is each of the tunes all had great significance to Davis. Gil Fuller's Manteca was a number he had played nightly as a member of Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band, while Glass Enclosure and I'll Keep Loving You attested to his long held fascination, friendship and study of Bud Powell's music. Embraceable You is a song long associated with Charlie Parker, whose recording on the Dial label still remains a profoundly emotional listening experience. When Walter played in Parker's quintet, Miles Davis was the trumpeter, who is saluted with two songs - 'My Funny Valentine' and 'Milestones.' Of Walter's own compositions, 'Backgammon' and 'Scorpio Rising' had been previously recorded, and were clearly among Walter's favourites of his original compositions - he recorded them both again the following month on the solo piano album 400 Years Ago Tomorrow and again on his trio album Scorpio Rising, in 1989. A Being Such As You, makes it's debut on this recording, and after a rococo introduction emerges as a moving ballad performance, with subtle gospel influences. It typifies the sense of surprise, spontaneity, love and joy he brought to these performances, on that Friday morning and afternoon, the 327th day of 1979. Stuart Nicholson, from liner notes