Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Native American guitarist Jesse Davis (a.k.a. Jesse Ed Davis) was the “go-to†sideman for a remarkable group of musicians. Starting in the mid-‘Sixties, he toured with Conway Twitty, then become a key part of Taj Mahal’s band, playing on several albums and tours including an appearance on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. And let’s not forget he paired up with Leon Russell to play on Bob Dylan’s single “Watching the River Flow†– followed by accompanying George Harrison during the Concert For Bangla Desh. By now, he’d caught the eyes and ears of ATCO Records, who released his debut LP Jesse Davis in 1971 featuring Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Gram Parsons, Merry Clayton, Ben Sidran, John Simon (producer of The Band), Alan White (of Yes), and many others including Delaney Bramlett behind the mixing desk. But supergroup aside, this record is a flat-out roots-rock classic, with Jesse’s inimitable personality bubbling through every laconically-sung lyric and tasty lick. Never before reissued on vinyl here in the States, we are pressing this one in forest green vinyl. (NOTE: for those wanting to know more about Jesse, check out the documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World). Highly recommended! Side One
