Quincy Davis

Quincy Davis, professor of jazz drum set at the University of North Texas, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and comes from a musical family. He began taking piano and drum lessons at age 6. In his elementary and middle school bands, he also played trumpet and tuba. Both of his parents are musicians who exposed him to a range of styles, including instrumental jazz, European classical, gospel, opera, R&B, and jazz fusion. 

Davis' formal music studies began in 11th grade at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied classical percussion and started playing drum set in jazz bands for the first time. 

 After graduating from Interlochen in 1995, Davis enrolled at Western Michigan University, where he studied with drum legend Billy Hart. During his college years, he played in big bands and small groups at collegiate jazz festivals, earning recognition from musicians including Benny Green, Bunky Green, Jon Faddis, Rufus Reid, Roy Haynes, Carl Allen, Louis Hayes and Wallace Roney.

After graduating from WMU in 1999, Davis taught elementary and middle school instrumental music in the Grand Rapids area for a year, leading beginner, intermediate, and advanced concert bands before moving to New York. 

In summer 2000, Davis relocated to New York City, where he quickly became one of the young musicians in demand on the jazz scene. He played regularly at the city's best-known venues, including the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Smalls, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Iridium, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and Smoke. 

While in New York, Davis performed and toured with Frank Wess, Ernestine Anderson, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Russell Malone, Eric Reed, Paquito D'Rivera, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Buster Williams, Eric Alexander, Leslie Odom Jr., Aaron Parks, Seamus Blake, Vanessa Rubin, Aaron Goldberg, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Gerald Clayton, the Clayton Brothers, Harold Mabern, Peter Bernstein, Regina Carter, David Hazeltine, Roy Hargrove, Randy Johnston, Bob Sheppard, Paula West, Houston Person, Curtis Fuller, New York Voices, the Mingus Orchestra, Ryan Kisor and Wessell Anderson. He still performs with many of these artists. 

In 2010, Davis joined the faculty at the University of Manitoba in Canada as assistant professor of jazz drumset. He and other faculty members helped raise the program's profile, and it has since produced students who have won numerous awards and built international careers.

In 2013, Davis released his debut album as a leader, "Songs in the Key of Q," which reached No. 1 on Jazz Week's radio jazz chart. His follow-up, "Q Vision," held the No. 3 spot for five weeks. Both albums feature all-original music written by Davis. 

Davis joined the University of North Texas faculty in 2017 and now chairs the drumset department. 

He can be heard on more than 50 albums alongside artists including Tom Harrell, Gretchen Parlato, Benny Golson, Steve Nelson, Ted Rosenthal, Marcus Printup, Dave Stryker, Walt Weiskopf, Stefon Harris, Randy Napoleon, Benny Green, Aaron Diehl, Frank Wess, Bobby Watson, Xavier Davis, Danny Grissett, Vincent Gardner, Darmon Meader and Sachal Vasandani. 

Davis remains active as a performer in the U.S. and abroad. His commitment to teaching extends beyond UNT to a YouTube channel, with 15,000 subscribers, featuring video lessons on jazz drumming and interviews with master drummers. 

Davis is an endorser of Zildjian cymbals, Tama drums, and Vic Firth drumsticks. 

Edited - 9.21.26

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