Background
Davis, Anthony was born on February 20, 1951 in Paterson, New Jersey, United States.
composer pianist university professor jazz musician
Davis, Anthony was born on February 20, 1951 in Paterson, New Jersey, United States.
Bachelor in Music, Yale University, 1975. Student, Wesleyan University.
Davis is best known for his operas including X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X, which was premiered by the New York City Opera in 1986, Amistad, which premiered with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1997, and Wakonda"s Dream, which premiered at Opera Omaha in 2007. He taught at Yale University and Harvard University, and has played with Anthony Braxton and Leo Smith. In 1981, Davis formed an octet called Episteme.
He also wrote the incidental music for the Broadway version of Tony Kushner"s Angels in America.
He incorporates several styles including jazz, rhythm "n" blues, gospel, non-Western, African, European classical, Indonesian, and experimental music Davis has received acclaim as a free-jazz pianist, a co-leader or sideman with various ensembles.
Such ensembles include those that featured Smith as bandleader from 1974 to 1977. Davis is professor of music at the University of California, San Diego.
His opera Wakonda"s Dream is a tale of a contemporary Native American family and the history that affects them.
His latest opera, Lilith (libretto by Allan Havis)" had its world premiere at the Conrad Prebys Music Center in University of California, San Diego on December 4, 2009. The story is about Adam"s first wife, set in a modern era.
Board of directors Parabola Arts Foundation Inc. Member NYSCA (panelist 1983-1985), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Married Cynthia Aaronson-Davis. 1 child: Jonah.