Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is not known how he received the nickname "Lockjaw" (later shortened to "Jaws"). Some say the name came from the title of a song, while others believe it described the way he bit firmly on the saxophone mouthpiece. Other ideas have also been suggested.

Biography

Eddie Davis played with many famous musicians, including Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk, Eddie Bonnemère, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie. He also led his own bands and made many recordings as a leader. He played music in several styles, such as swing, bop, hard bop, Latin jazz, and soul jazz. Some of his recordings from the 1940s were also considered rhythm and blues.

In 1940, Teddy Hill became the manager of the famous Minton's Jazz club. He gave Eddie Davis the responsibility of deciding which musicians could or could not join during the club’s jam sessions. Playing at Minton’s was highly valued, and only musicians who met the club’s high standards were allowed to participate.

In 1946, Eddie Davis led a band called Eddie Davis and His Beboppers. This band included Fats Navarro, Al Haig, Huey Long, Gene Ramey, and Denzil Best.

During the 1950s, Eddie Davis played with Sonny Stitt. From 1960 to 1962, he and Johnny Griffin, another tenor saxophonist, led a group called a quintet.

Starting in 1955 and continuing until 1960, Eddie Davis helped start a new musical style called the tenor sax/ Hammond organ combo. This group included Shirley Scott playing the Hammond B3 organ.

From the mid-1960s, Davis and Griffin performed together as part of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band. This group also included other musicians, mostly from Europe.

Eddie Davis died from Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Culver City, California, at the age of 64.

Discography

• 1954: Goodies from Eddie Davis (Roost [10-inch LP])
• 1955: The Battle of Birdland [live] (Roost) – with Sonny Stitt
• 1956: Modern Jazz Expressions (King)
• 1956: Jazz With a Horn (King) – also released as This and That (King, 1959)
• 1956–57: Jazz With a Beat (King) – with Shirley Scott; released 1958
• 1957: Big Beat Jazz (King) – released 1958
• 1957: Uptown (King) – released 1958
• 1957: Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman (Roulette)
• 1958: Eddie Davis Trio Featuring Shirley Scott, Organ (Roulette)
• 1958: The Eddie Davis Trio Featuring Shirley Scott, Organ (Roost)
• 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook, Vol. 1 (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott, Jerome Richardson; also released as In the Kitchen (Prestige, 1969)
• 1958: Jaws (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott
• 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook, Vol. 2 (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott, Jerome Richardson; also released as The Rev (Prestige, 1970)
• 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook Volume 3 (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott, Jerome Richardson; released 1961
• 1958: Smokin' [the 4th volume in the Cookbook series] (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott, Jerome Richardson; released 1964
• 1959: Very Saxy (Prestige) – with Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb
• 1959: Jaws in Orbit (Prestige) – with Steve Pulliam, Shirley Scott
• 1959: Bacalao (Prestige) – with Shirley Scott
• 1960: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott (Moodsville) – note: Scott also on piano
• 1960: Misty (Moodsville) – with Shirley Scott; released 1963
• 1960: Afro-Jaws (Riverside) – with Ray Barretto; also released as Alma Alegre (Jazzland, 1964)
• 1960: Battle Stations (Prestige) – with Johnny Griffin, Norman Simmons; released 1963
• 1960: Trane Whistle (Prestige) – with big band arranged by Oliver Nelson, Ernie Wilkins
• 1960: Tough Tenors (Jazzland) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance
• 1960: Griff & Lock (Jazzland) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance; released 1961
• 1961: The Tenor Scene (Prestige) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance; also released as The Breakfast Show (Prestige, 1966)
• 1961: The First Set (Prestige) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance; released 1964
• 1961: The Midnight Show (Prestige) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance; released 1965
• 1961: The Late Show (Prestige) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance; released 1965
• 1961: Lookin' at Monk! (Jazzland) – with Johnny Griffin, Junior Mance
• 1961: Blues Up & Down (Jazzland) – with Johnny Griffin, Lloyd Mayers; released 1962
• 1962: Tough Tenor Favorites (Jazzland) – with Johnny Griffin, Horace Parlan
• 1962: Jawbreakers (Riverside) – with Harry "Sweets" Edison
• 1962: Don't Be That Way (Black & Blue, 1976)
• 1962: Wonderland (Pablo, 1976 [1986])
• 1962: With the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band – Sax No End (SABA, 1967)
• 1962: With Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners – Coming Home (Black & Blue, 1976); All Right OK You Win (Black & Blue, 1976); Just Friends (Black & Blue, 1975); Edison's Lights (Pablo, 1976)
• 1962: The Red Garland Trio + Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Moodsville, 1959)
• 1962: The Dizzy Gillespie Big 7 (Pablo, 1975)
• 1962: Shades of Grey (Tangerine, 1965)
• 1962: Callin' the Blues (Prestige, 1958)
• 1962: Night Hawk (Swingville, 1960)
• 1962: The Main Man (Pablo, 1977)
• 1962: Golden Boy (Mercury, 1964)
• 1962: Hear My Blues (Bluesville, 1959) – with Shirley Scott; also released as Blues Shout! (Prestige, 1964)
• 1962: The Matadors Meet the Bull (Roulette, 1965)
• 1962: