Paul Bass Photo
Chris “Big Dog” Davis signs his new CD at Thursday afternoon’s release party.
“Big Dog” stared down death. And discovered a new groove.
“Big Dog” — international producer and touring and recording artist Chris Davis —returned home to Stetson Library Thursday afternoon to spread that news.
There was much to celebrate: Davis beat stage 4 lymphona, and came back strong. He turns 60 this month. And, after producing chart-topping recordings for other artists, he has put out his first album of his own, drawn from originals he composed during his cancer treatment and recovery. Called Focus. Friends whose work he has arranged and produced over the years, like jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright, return the favor by popping in on the album’s various tracks.
In Dixwell Plaza’s parking lot Thursday, Stetson Branch Librarian Diane X. Brown hosted a CD release party for Brown, who makes it a point to hit the neighborhood in between tours to check in with the kids.
While Davis autographed copies of the CD and friends and family mingled, Focus filled the air with positive vibes from a sound system set up for the occasion. The new album, like all of Davis’s work, taps an optimistic them, affirming life, with a newfound appreciation for it.
“This is a big day for me. Focus came out last week. I wanted to do something else in the community to showcase what you can do in life if you believe in yourself,” Davis told the gathering.
Click here for a full story by Brian Slattery about the new album and the latest in Davis’s career. Davis’s next project: A reinterpretation of the songs of Stevie Wonder.
