The University of Toledo Department of Music will welcome Xavier Davis, a celebrated jazz pianist on faculty at Michigan State University, as the guest performer for the 2025 Art Tatum Memorial Concert on Monday, Feb. 17.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. in UToledo’s Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall, with Davis assisted by UToledo faculty Norman Damschroder on double bass, Dr. Olman Piedra on drums and Jay Weik on guitar.
Xavier Davis, a celebrated jazz pianist on faculty at Michigan State University, is the guest performer for the 2025 Art Tatum Memorial Concert.
General admission tickets are $10 at the box office or in advance via the UToledo Tix.com website. UToledo student admission is free with a Rocket ID.
Visitor parking will require payment via the ParkMobile app, a parking meter or a daily permit via ParkUToledo. Visit the ParkUToledo website for more information.
Davis is a celebrated jazz pianist who has performed and instructed all over the world. He has been featured on more than 60 albums, including two by the Christian McBride Big Band that won Grammy Awards in 2012 and 2018. He has released two critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader and most recently released an EP, “Cautious Optimism,” in 2022.
His professional career as a jazz pianist took off under legendary vocalist Betty Carter, who took note of Davis’ talent while he was performing with a college ensemble at the 1994 International Association of Jazz Educators convention in Boston. Carter went on to hire Davis exclusively as the pianist of her working trio in New York.
Today, Davis also is a composer, arranger, producer and educator, teaching at the Juilliard School before joining Michigan State University as an associate professor of jazz piano in 2014.
“The Department of Music hosts the Art Tatum Memorial Concert annually in honor of Art Tatum, the late jazz great who grew up in Toledo,” said Jason Stumbo, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Music. “Xavier Davis is an outstanding jazz pianist who carries on that legacy, and we’re excited to share his talents with local audiences.”
Tatum is credited with greatly expanding the jazz genre, introducing new techniques and arrangements. His successful professional career included many successful recordings, a radio program and regular performances nationally and internationally.
Proceeds from the concert support the Art Tatum Memorial Scholarship. For more information, go to the Art Tatum Memorial Concert website.
