Jesse Ed Davis stood out as one of the most adaptable studio guitarists active from the late 1960s into the early 1970s. His understated touch appeared on recordings by major figures including Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, John Lennon, and John Lee Hooker. The distinctive weeping slide lines on Clapton’s “Hello Old Friend,” taken from the album No Reason to Cry, belong to Davis, while the majority of the guitar parts on both Rock n’ Roll and Walls & Bridges were supplied by him for Lennon.
Oklahoma was his birthplace, and after completing a literature degree at the University of Oklahoma he launched his performing life by touring alongside Conway Twitty during the early 1960s. Relocating to California, he became a member of Taj Mahal’s group and contributed guitar as well as piano to the singer’s initial three albums. Over a three-year period with Mahal, Davis demonstrated breadth by handling slide, lead, and rhythm duties across country and jazz styles.
That stretch with Mahal represented the nearest Davis came to steady band membership; once Giant Step appeared in 1969 he turned to freelance session work for an array of artists such as David Cassidy, Albert King, and Willie Nelson. He also issued three solo albums that included contributions from associates Leon Russell and Eric Clapton.
Repeated stays in rehabilitation facilities led to an extended absence from recording during much of the 1980s as he confronted struggles with alcohol and drug dependence. Shortly before his death from a suspected overdose in 1988, he returned to performing with the Graffiti Band, whose sound was paired with the poetry of American Indian activist John Trudell. The expert, tasteful musicianship Davis consistently provided remains deeply missed by those with whom he collaborated.
