Perhaps the preeminent jazz duo of all time, and definitely the top historic vocal-and-guitar jazz duo, was the pairing of singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) and guitarist Joe Pass (1929-1994).
The two larger-than-life artists primarily led successful separate careers, other than occasional live performances together, releasing only four duo albums between 1973 and 1986 and thus always leaving audiences waiting for more.
But if you think that comparable dynamism couldn’t possibly exist in South Florida, then you haven’t seen or heard Davis and Dow (www.davisanddow.com).
The Pompano Beach-based duo of vocalist Julie Davis and guitarist Kelly Dow actually met with Fitzgerald in mind when Davis placed a 1994 classified ad in RAG magazine — does anybody remember that South Florida print publication? — that read, “Looking for a musician. Singer into Ella Fitzgerald.”
Dow, whose primary influences include a holy trinity of jazz guitarists in Pass, Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhardt, responded while on break during a cruise ship gig. The two met at an open mic; performed the jazz standard “How High the Moon,” and haven’t come down since.
That’s because the meeting eventually resulted in a honeymoon. The two got married in 1997, and now have more than 30 years of duetting on multiple levels, including performances in New York City, London, and Japan.
“Japan was around 25 years ago,” Davis says, “for a New Year’s Eve gig. And there, instead of singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ as the clock strikes midnight, they sing ‘Top of the World’ by The Carpenters! So we all sang, ‘I’m on top of the world lookin’ down on creation.’ It was a fun and interesting cultural experience.”
The couple, each a native Texan, took different routes toward Florida and music in general. Dow graduated from the esteemed University of North Texas music program in 1990 before getting called for lucrative South Florida cruise ship dates. His expertise on an Eastman seven-string guitar results in lush, gorgeous melodies and harmonies that, like his predecessors, often sound like more than one guitarist. A true instrumentalist, the introverted Dow speaks sparingly and in measured tones, opting to allow his hands to make the bulk of his statements.
“A lot of the people at UNT were getting those cruise ship contracts,” he recalls. “I hadn’t traveled that much in my life, so to me, it was all pretty cool, especially getting a gig like that for the first time. And I liked it in Florida, and being able to make a living here through playing music.”
Whether singing or merely speaking, Davis’s effervescent, extroverted personality practically always bubbles over. On stage or in the studio, her self-taught vocal phrasing, humor and improvisational skills are showcased on everything from soothing ballads to explosive scat-singing. She relocated to the Sunshine State on the advice of her mother.
“I was spinning my wheels in Texas, working at Blockbuster Video,” she says with a laugh. “My mom lived here, and said there was a thriving jazz scene in and around Fort Lauderdale. She said, ‘Come down here and live with me. You need to be singing. You need to see what you can do with your voice.’ And she’s been equally gracious and giving ever since in supporting my habit.”
Primarily performing duets, Davis and Dow also play occasionally with bassist Paul Shewchuk’s Swing All-Stars with fellow regional luminaries like saxophonist Jesse Jones Jr., keyboardist Michael Masci and drummer Orlando Machado. Davis and Dow also both pay it forward at North Broward Preparatory School, Dow as an instructor and Davis in a more administrative role. The work offsets what’s become a more seasonal South Florida music scene for performers unwilling to veer into schmaltzy full-on tribute roles.
“I never wanted to be one of those singers who worked in hotels and made a lot of money playing corporate events,” Davis says. “I’m too connected to jazz and improvisation. That earthy, gritty, dirty, making-mistakes realm of music. For us, the answer has always been to run toward the art, even if it’s not what everyone else wants to hear. We decided that was what would feed our souls and make us happy forever. And for the most part, that’s been true.”
“There’s an arts academy within the school at North Broward Prep,” says Dow, “and I have students who are already amazing. Their names will be known. And Julie does a great job as the school’s guest substitute teacher coordinator.”
Davis and Dow have three album releases: All Shades (1996), Naked (2001) and Loverly (2009), featuring original compositions, pop interpretations, and jazz standards written by giants like Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and Irving Berlin. An overdue, long-awaited fourth release would equal the output of Fitzgerald and Pass.
“Oh, we know all about how many albums they did!” Davis exults. “We have some newer recordings that are done; we just haven’t figured out quite how to best present them yet. Vinyl is making a comeback. Digital? Hard-copy CDs?”
“We’re huge fans of John Pizzarelli,” Dow says of the singing jazz guitar icon. “Music has become all about click bait now, but he has a new CD out and was selling hard copies at a gig recently and said, ‘Next year, I’m going to sell CD players too!’”
If You Go
See Davis and Dow from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Lake Park Town Green, 720 Park Ave., Lake Park (561-881-3300); 1-3 p.m. Dec. 8 with Paul Shewchuk’s Swing All-Stars at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach ($35, 561-832-5328), 6-8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Bonnet House, 900 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale (954-563-5393), 6-10 p.m. Dec. 12 at The Wilton Collective, 1414 N.E. 26th St., Wilton Manors ($20, 754-701-5040), 5-8 p.m. Dec. 19 at Bona Italia, 2468 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors (954-565-7222), and 11 a.m-3 p.m. Jan. 26 at Pier 6 Rooftop, 200 N. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach (954-943-2525).