Newest Jazz Couple, Steve and Abena Koomson Davis, to Perform Selections from Where Is Love?
“I Was Fascinated by Jazz Vocalists—How They Could Turn a Phrase and Reinterpret Melodies”
By Jay Sweet
Initially published in New Jersey Jazz Society www.njjs.org
The jazz world has long celebrated dynamic couples who share both life and the stage. Among them are pianists Renée Rosnes and Bill Charlap, pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias and bassist Marc Johnson, vocalist Nicole Zuraitis and drummer Dan Pugach. Now, you can add vocalist Abena Koomson Davis and trombonist Steve Davis. The two recently collaborated on Where Is Love? (WJ3 Records), Abena’s first jazz album as a leader. They will be performing music from the album at the Central Jersey Jazz Festival on September 14 in Somerville, NJ. Both Worcester, MA natives (like this writer), Abena and Steve share a musical bond that was decades in the making.
When asked how they first met, Abena laughed and credited “the Facebooks,” noting that mutual friends helped bring them together. But their very first introduction happened much earlier. As a college student, Abena’s close friend, saxophonist Jimmy Greene, insisted she meet his professor at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School. That professor was Steve Davis. Greene told her: “He’s a great trombone player.” The meeting was brief, just a few minutes. Afterward, Abena mostly knew of Steve through his recordings. At the time, Greene was still a junior playing in Davis’ quintet, while Abena was also studying trombone.
Two decades later, fate intervened. The pair exchanged a quick hello at Smalls Jazz Club in New York. Not long after, they reencountered one another at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, where Steve was performing in a trombone showcase with Steve Turre, Frank Lacy, and Andre Hayward. Abena, who had started her own musical journey on trombone, came to listen. The two have been together ever since. Performing together felt just as natural as their personal connection. Abena recalls with a smile: “It’s awesome. We have a ball—we love to travel together.” Steve remembers the very first time Abena sat in with him. It was at a jam session in Stamford, CT at a club called The Ninth Note.
“We didn’t even live in Stamford yet. Abena was still in Harlem, spending time up in the Hartford area. There was no microphone, but she said, ‘It’s okay, I’ll be fine.’ And she just filled the room.” He described the feeling: “It was like standing next to a fellow horn player, a really strong one. I thought, wow, this is happening. Our sounds blended, and the way she phrased was so strong. It just felt natural. We bounced ideas off each other well, and as a trombone player, I’ve always enjoyed orchestrating on the spot. With Abena, it clicked immediately.”
Steve Davis has been firmly rooted in jazz for decades, performing with legends such as Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, and Chick Corea. Abena’s artistic path initially leaned toward theater, funk, and soul. She even starred as a lead in the Broadway show Fela! But she always carried a love for jazz. It was Steve who encouraged her to make her debut recording. “He was really the impetus for this album. He and I have a love of jazz music that we’ve shared throughout our relationship. From my teenage years, I was fascinated by jazz vocalists—how they could turn a phrase and reinterpret melodies. That inspired me to pursue singing in the first place. Jazz vocals always felt like home.”
With Steve’s support, and drummer Willie Jones III producing for WJ3 Records, Abena recorded Where Is Love? with a stellar lineup: pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Nat Reeves, guitarist Tony Davis (Steve’s son), trumpeter Josh Bruneau and saxophonist Mike DeRubbo. The album, released in 2024 blends standards with striking originals. One highlight, Freddie Hubbard and Abbey Lincoln’s “Up Jump Spring,” came at Steve’s suggestion after introducing Abena to Abbey Lincoln’s lyrical version. For Abena, it was fresh territory; for Steve, it carried nostalgia from his years performing with Hubbard and Eddie Henderson. It also connected back to one of the first songs Steve ever played with Henderson, decades earlier at the 880 Club in Hartford.
Another standout, Abena’s composition, “Perseverance,” came to life just before the pandemic. Abena wrote lyrics for it in the summer of 2020, when the two escaped to the Catskills to stay at a friend’s home. Within 20 minutes, she had words on the page. At the time, the couple was also grieving the loss of their dear friend, pianist Larry Willis. Abena’s lyrics honored the way those we love remain present in our lives, helping us persevere even through loss.
The title track, Lionel Bart’s “Where Is Love?,” holds a personal place in both their hearts. “I started singing that song many years ago be- cause it’s one of my favorites,” Abena explained. “Steve loved it, too, and we both bonded over it. The song asks a big question—where is love?—and it resonated with us. When it came time to name the album, it just felt right Given the times we’re in—political unrest, the ravages of war—it seemed like the perfect title and the right song for this moment.”
While Abena celebrated her debut, Steve also released a live album, We See (Smoke Sessions, 2024), his fifth record for the label. He’s joined by saxophonist Ralph Moore, Eddie Henderson, Renee Rosnes, bassist Essiet, and drummer Lewis Nash in a series of performances at Smoke. Davis credits Smoke’s Paul Stache and Damon Smith with the idea for the album. “They said, ‘Why don’t you guys play a couple nights, then by Friday and Saturday we’ll just put up some mics and record?’ With a band like that, I knew good music would come out of it. We just played tunes we all loved. No fixing, no editing—what you hear is what you get. It was unpretentious, just real jazz.” Abena laughed as she admitted: “You can hear me screaming on the record. It’s so embarrassing. I wanted to be on that record in some way.” Steve added, “The sound of the room was so good. Having the audience there feeds the band and gives the music authenticity. I couldn’t dream of a better sextet—it was a real honor.”
Looking ahead, the couple plans to balance individual projects with more collaborations. Their partnership, in music and in life, has already proven to be a powerful blend.