Mike Davis Playing Louis Bonfa’s Black Orpheus

October 22, 2009 | Posted by Robin

Mike Davis began playing guitar at age thirteen and immediately became a bona- fide guitar fanatic! Early influences were Jimi Hendrix, Toni Iommi and Eric Clapton. From the day he received my first instrument he attended guitar lessons, first from Andy Enz, then through the early years from Dan Erickson, Stephen Boswell, Paris Russell. Then later with Pat Coleman, Collin MacQuarrie and Myron Makepeace.

During my years with Paris he concentrated on classical guitar, also completing a two- year pedagogy by age seventeen. After high school he attended the jazz program at Malaspina University/College, Naniamo, B.C., Campus. During this time he performed with Steve Jones, Dave Blinzinger, Joelle Rabu and Brian Stovall. At this time he picked up the bass guitar and found it to be a natural second instrument.

Eventually he returned to my roots and home town, Powell River, B.C., and embarked on a new career, teaching guitar at the Powell River Academy of Music. For 10 years he conducted private and group lessons at the academy keeping a full week of lessons and 40 – 50 students. His time in Powell River has led me to perform with many bands and to the release of CD Songo Sanga.

Here Mike is playing Louis Bonfa’s Black Orpheus. He started learning this piece by playing the chords and recording them. He then learned the melody. Everything else is improvised. He hopes you like it. The gear he’s using is a Gibson Howard Roberts into a Marshall tremolo and a Marshall RF-1 reverb into his Rm-100 Half stack using the mic eliminator.

Categories: Music | Tags: activities, british columbia, canada, destination, guitar, louis bonfa, mike davis, Music, musicians, Powell River, Sunshine Coast | No Comments »