Dr. Michael Davison

Distinguished trumpeter Dr. Michael Davison is a legendary performer, respected professor, published composer, and ethnomusicologist. Davison’s love of music has shaped his life and career. He is in demand across the country as a classical and jazz performer and educator. As a performer, he has given jazz and classical recitals all over the United States as well as in parts of France, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, China and Cuba. Davison has recorded four jazz CDs as both a leader and sideman. His classical CD, Fenster, received rave reviews from the International Trumpet Guild Journal. Widely considered an expert in Cuban music, he performs and teaches Cuban music at the University of Richmond and worldwide. As a jazz musician, Davison has performed with the late tenor saxophonist and 11-time Grammy winner, Michael Brecker, popular jazz trombonist, Curtis Fuller and legendary Latin jazz saxophonist and composer, Justo Almario. He has also performed alongside some of Motown’s most iconic singers and groups, including Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations and The Four Tops. As a classical musician, Davison has performed with Rhythm and Brass, a group that plays everything from Bach to Pink Floyd. He has performed with the Wisconsin and Whitewater Brass Quintets, the Rochester Philharmonic, Wisconsin Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony. Davison has performed for Pope John II and George Leonard Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Davison has published two transcription books on famed trumpeter Randy Brecker. "Randy Brecker: Artist Transcriptions/Trumpet" was published by Hal Leonard Publishing Company and "The Music of Randy Brecker: Solo Transcriptions and Performing Artist Master Class CD" was published by Warner Bros. In addition to transcribing, Davison has also published jazz and Afro-Cuban compositions with Walrus Music. In 1986, Davison accepted a job as head of the jazz and trumpet programs at the University of Richmond. A respected scholar on Cuban musical styles, he has taught many courses on jazz and Cuban music since arriving in Richmond and was recently awarded the prestigious Educator of the Year award. 



His influence as an educator goes beyond the University of Richmond campus. Davison also serves as trumpet instructor and head of the brass area at the world-renowned Interlochen International Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. He hosted the International Trumpet Guild Conference in 1999 and is an Edwards Instrument Performing Artist. Davison, along with producer Ed Tillett, completed Cuba: Rhythm in Motion, a documentary tracing the musical genealogy between Cuban rhythms and American jazz. The film premiered on the campus of the University of Richmond in 2007 and has been shown around the world, including Spain, Australia and Mexico. Dr. Davison is presently writing a book on Cuban folk music. 

An active recitalist, Davison has performed on public radio, with the University of Maryland Jazz Ensemble, and as soloist with the Richmond Symphony, among many other appearances. Davison has written numerous articles for DownBeat, G.I.A. Quarterly, and Fanfare magazine. He has published many jazz combo charts with Advance Music Company and is a clinician for the Selmer/Bach company.