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Snake Davis has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. He has played on the records of the following artists and many others notably the M People, as well as Lisa Stansfield, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Culture Club, Hamish Stuart, George Michael, Tina 
Turner, Paul Hardcastle, Take That, Cher, China Crisis, Beyoncé Knowles, N-Trance, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Mark Morrison, Pet Shop Boys, Soul II Soul, Robert Palmer, Tanita Tikaram, Acoustic Alchemy, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Calvin Harris, Spice Girls & Boy George, and he has also worked on numerous television adverts in the UK and abroad.
“Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while.” TIME OUT
“A virtuoso saxophonist” DAILY TELEGRAPH
“Snake is a joy to work alongside. His musical skills have no limit – in fact he’s as free as a bird” DAVE STEWART
“From raw power to a joss-stick carrying ambience then back through reggae, soul and funk, Snake set the world alight elevating the mind” CARLISLE EVENING PRESS
“Snake Davis is quite a player. He has slithered into town, a tenor playing secret that Manchester has been trying to keep to itself” EVENING STANDARD
“A brilliant Sax player who could wail like the best American players, but was at his best weaving around slow ballads – won deserved acclaim” BLUES AND SOUL 
“A virtuoso saxophonist” DAILY TELEGRAPH
“One of the most passionate styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn” Time Out.
Snake Davis played with the
Snake Davis played with the jazzznights Trio who were:
Roger Odell – Drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak and the forerunner band Tracks. Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day.
Simon Brown – Piano
Simon is a highly respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging skills. His bands include the quintet Beyond Cantaloupe featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, the Simon Brown Trio and Quartet.
Bernie Hodgkins – 5 String Double Bass
Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family and has toured in Europe and further afield with a wide variety of artists and honed his skills and adding to his prodigious repertoire. Spending much of his time in the recording studios, he is equally at home and in demand as an enthusiastic “live” rhythm section player
Larraine Odell – Vocals
Beginning her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues throughout the UK and Europe, including the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall. Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the erudite Gareth Williams-James
Larraine Odell opened the first set with great style singing:
Weaver of Dreams is a tune from the album of the same name by guitarist Kenny Burrell recorded in 1960 and 1961. The album features Burrell’s vocal talents as well as his guitar playing.
Corcovado” (known in English as “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”) is a bossa nova song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960. An English lyric was later written by Gene Lees. The Portuguese title refers to the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
The Touch of Your Lips is a romantic ballad written by Ray Noble in 1936. The original version of the song (now a jazz standard), which was by Al Bowlly.
Wild Is the Wind is a song written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington. The track was originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film Wild Is the Wind. Recorded also by George Michael and was sungh in this style by Larraine.
I Only Have Eyes for You (1934) with music by Harry Warren and lyrics from Al Dubin. Dick Powell introduced this song in the 1934 motion picture Dames.
Snake Davis then joined the band to play extended versions of:
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy is a song written by Joe Zawinul in 1966 for Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and his album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at ‘The Club’. The theme of the song on the original recording is performed by Joe Zawinul himself playing it on a Wurlitzer electric piano previously used by Ray Charles. Snake was playing tenor on this tune.
Snake then changed to alto sax for It Might as Well Be Spring which is a song from the 
1945 film, State Fair. With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and now a jazz standard having been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and FGrank Sinatra among many others.
Joy Spring, has become part of the standard jazz repertoire. The song was composed by CliffordBrown in honour of his wife, whom he called his “joy spring” and was first featured in the Clifford Brown & Max Roach album from 1955.
Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an opportunity to play with the band. Tonight we had Geoff Harriman on the harmonica and John Reeve-Butler on the fretless electric bass playing Henry Mancini’s Days Of Wine And Roses.
Snake Davis then re-joined the trio to play:
Night Train, The piece’s opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the title “That’s the Blues, Old Man”. 
You Are the One or You’re the One. Not sure of the origins of this one but a great number.
Luis Bonfa’s Gentle rain a bossa nova played on the flute.
Winelight is a 1980 album and a song by jazz musician Grover Washington, Jr. It received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1982.
St. Thomas is perhaps the most recognizable instrumental in the repertoire of American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who is usually credited as its composer. However, it is actually based on the traditional English song The Lincolnshire Poacher. Was played by Snake on a wood whistle.
As a great finale Snake played Watermelon Man is a jazz standard written by Herbie Hancock, first released on his debut album, Takin’ Off (1962.
Sun 10 May – KEITH WINTER (gtr) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 10th May 2015
Having been a founder member of the jazz funk band Shakatak, Keith fell ill with a very rare condition that considerably damaged his sensory nervous system and left him unable to play the guitar. Amazingly, 20 years later and against all the odds, he has now recovered and is back playing again.
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Cock Inn, 3, Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8PX
Admission £10. Doors open 7.30pm. Music 8.00-10.30pm.
Reserve seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com
Pay on the night.
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