Tracing My Dad Vol. 10 – Tony Visconti discusses Dennis Davis and David Bowie Part 4 (79/80)

September 12th, 2019 | by Nick

Tracing My Dad • Vol. 10 • Tony Visconti discusses Dennis Davis and David Bowie • Part 4 [ 79/80 ]

The HD Projects presents the fourth and final in the series of interview videos with world-famous music producer Tony Visconti, talking about drummer Dennis Davis.

The interview took place in New York City in 2018. Tony provided a lot of information and insight into the music he and David Bowie made and the times they shared, with Dennis Davis.

Each video focuses on a specific phase of Tony’s work with Bowie and Dennis. This one focuses on the period that produced Bowie’s 1979 album Lodger and 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). The recording and production happened over a period of about 20 months, in London, Montreux and New York. During this period, the constant in Bowie’s musical cohorts continued to be Tony Visconti and The D.A.M. Trio – Dennis Davis, Carlos Alomar, George Murray.

In this video, Tony shares interesting stories and details from those sessions, and beyond. Included is a previously unheard track breakdown of Bowie classic Ashes to Ashes, from the original 1980 multi tracks.

A personal note from Hikaru Davis:

When I watch these videos, I feel time. I feel time because I looked so small and young. My voice was still a little boy’s voice. But when I think about the time passed, it seems that nothing has changed. I’m afraid to forget my dad, how he was like, how his voice was like and how his drum sounded like. I’m lucky because he left us so much. I can always listen to his drums. When I visited Mr. Visconti’s studio, he shared the original recording sound of my Dad. I could even hear him cough too. I would like to thank Mr. Visconti for his time, sharing many stories of my Dad and the sounds of my favorite drummer, Dennis Davis. Thank you.

A note from Nacho:

“He always played parts that seemed impossible… he always came from left field with something special.” – Tony Visconti, talking about Dennis Davis on this video.

When I listened as a kid to the incredible drummer on those ’75 – ‘80 Bowie records, I didn’t know who he was, but I certainly knew Dennis was something special. And so decades later, working with Hikaru and Chie Davis on this series of videos has been my pleasure and my privilege.

But it has also been a hell of a lot of work, which sorta turned it into this years big karma-yoga duty for me, as we yogi’s say.

Despite one piece of vital equipment not functioning, Hikaru and Chie did a great job at Tony’s studio that day. Upon first watching all the raw interview footage Hikaru sent me last year, the remit was obvious, the task daunting: Unscramble all the of 2 hours+ of talk shared between Tony and Hikaru, turn it into something coherent, interesting, digestible. It was worth all the work, I believe that through these videos we now have a little more of a picture of the musical process and of the creators of that magical Bowie art.

I hope you dig it!

facebook.com/TheNachoVideos

youtube.com/nachomarcho

vimeo.com/NachosProductions.

Dennis Davis passed away on April 6th, 2016.

Hikaru Davis is the youngest child of the late drummer. Hikaru interviews some of the great musicians and producers who have worked with his late father, as well as Dennis’s friends and family. Dennis Davis played with David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, George Benson and many others. Hikaru hopes to learn how and why his father was one of the greatest drummers, and hear inspiring stories of his father through this tribute project.

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Use of the music and footage contained in this video does not imply any copyright ownership, and no infringement of rights is intended.

#DavidBowie #Lodger #ScaryMonsters #TheDAMTrio #TonyVisconti #DennisDavis #CarlosAlomar #GeorgeMurray #BrianEno #AshestoAshes

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