The 32nd annual Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists Conference is March 26-28, 2026 in Madison. Its Faculty Concert will be held at at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:30pm. Doors at 7:00pm.
The concert will feature selections from Davis' "Love Suite," a collection of 80+ songs that he studied, performed, and recorded throughout his career. Performers include Peter Dominguez, Philip Alejo, Dan Chmielinski, Emma Dayhuff, Ben Ferris, Diana Gannett, John Kennedy, Paul Kowert, David Murray, Donovan Stokes, Jeff Weiss and Beth Wilson.
Richard Davis’s legacy cannot be understated. He left us with a set list of over 100 songs which he complied over many decades. The breath of the compositions chosen are compelling and demonstrate Richard’s love for a melody. Songs from Western European classical music such as Richard’s transcription of Debussy’s “Claire De Lune (which he first arranged in 1950) and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise”; to contemporary compositions like “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” by Herbie Hancock and “Happy Reunion” by Duke Ellington; to original works such as “Persia My Dear’ and “710 Lombard.” Richard recorded many of these and performed these works in intimate settings, such as house concerts, and selections from the suite were featured in his performances for decades including one of his last concerts in 2014 at the Wisconsin Union Theater with pianist Willie Pickens (1931-2017). Piano/Bass duos were a larger part of Richard’s performance career, starting with one of his first recordings in the 1950s with Don Shirley. Unfortunately, Richards was not able to record his “Love Suite” as he imagined before health concerns hindered his capacity to play the double bass. Before his passing, Richard gave his collection of songs in his “Love Suite” to Ben
Ferris. Ben is finishing up his Double Bass DMA at UW- Madison. He will be a collaborative producer and performer on this project assisting in all aspects and providing copies of Richard’s music with the annotations and edits. Who better to bring this “Love Suite” to fruition than those colleagues, former students, and peers who Richard loved and knew him intimately. His RDBY faculty represent the best of the est; a diverse collection of bassists versed in many different styles and music endeavors.
Richard’s impact on the community for over four decades is unmeasurable. He taught so many of us, he reached many more students, guided many faculty and staff to his “Philosophy of the Spiritual.” By honoring Richard’s last musical intentions, “Love Suite" is an opportunity to recognize Richard’s musical breath through the talents of his RDYB faculty. It will be deeply spiritual and healing for the participating artists. Undoubtedly, that reverence/sacredness of this musical experience will come through on stage and our RDYB foundation will record (video and audio) the evening. Richard’s legacy educating young bassists will be further supported by inspiring young bassists at the conference with this live performance.
Faculty Concert, Richard Davis Foundation For Young Bassists Conference: "Love Suite"
Peter Dominguez grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin participating in the Music for Youth Orchestras, and performing with his father, pianist and singer Frank DeMiles. His teachers included Willard Feldman and Clyde Russell. Peter went on to study with Roger Ruggeri and Richard Davis at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earned his baccalaureate and masters degrees with a teaching assistantship 1980-82.
In 1981 he was the first recipient of the Milton J. Hinton scholarship competition award. A teaching assistantship and doctoral studies with Dr. Lucas Drew at the University of Miami, Coral Gables followed in 1982-84. Eventually securing positions in both the Florida Philharmonic and Michigan State University, Peter chose MSU, served as Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies 1984-96, and was instrumental in developing their Jazz Studies program. During his Michigan years, he continued studies with Robert Gladstone and performed with the Detroit Symphony.
... Read More
Bassist Emma Dayhuff mixes soulful lyricism with adventurous experimentation. Emma is the most recent bassist to graduate from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance and is the fifth woman to ever participate in the prestigious program. Emma has had opportunities to share the stage and the recording studio with Herbie Hancock, David Murray, Jeff Parker, Kahil El Zabar, Gretchen Parlato, Robert Irving III, Patricia Barber, Victor Goines, Nicole Mitchell, and Willie Pickens.
Originally from Bozeman, Montana, she left home to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she studied with Peter Dominguez, Eddie Gomez, and Billy Hart. Upon graduation, Emma moved to Chicago where she worked as a freelance musician and as the recording engineer for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is the recording engineer for two releases by the CSO: “Mason Bates: Anthology of Fantastic Zoology” and “Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony.”
In 2015, Emma had grown curious... Read More
Ben Ferris is a bassist and educator from Madison, WI. A student of NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis, he graduated with a music-education degree from UW-Madison in 2013. Ben performs regularly in the midwest, especially with the Ben Ferris Trio, a creative music ensemble that focuses on new compositions by musicians in the band. His group the Ben Ferris Quintet released their debut album, “Home” in 2016 featuring original compositions by Ben and other members of the ensemble. A self-release, it is available exclusively on CD and Bandcamp. He also leads the Ben Ferris Octet, a group that plays a diverse selection of jazz repertoire. Ben also competed as a finalist in the 2017 International Society of Bassists Jazz Performance competition. Ben plays and writes music for “Mr Chair,” a contemporary ensemble of electronic trombone (Mark Hetzler), keyboard (Jason Kutz), percussion (Mike Koszewski) and electronic upright bass. As a sideman Ben performs with Nuggernaut (jazz-funk), The Jon... Read More
Diana Gannett is currently retired as Professor Emerita of Double Bass at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Previous appointments include the faculties of Yale University School of Music and the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut, the Oberlin College Conservatory in Ohio, and the University of Iowa where, as President of the International Society of Bassists, she hosted the 1999 ISB convention. Gannett did both her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Musical Arts at Yale University with virtuoso Gary Karr, then went on to team-teach with Karr for several years.
As a chamber musician, she has performed with the artists of the Guarneri, Emerson, Laurentian, Stradivari, Maia, Stanford Quartets, and the Borodin Trio. Her solo appearances have included many contemporary premieres and solo improvisations as well as traditional repertoire. In recent years she performed and taught in Scotland, Taiwan, Poland, and Brazil as well as Israel. She has recorded several solo and... Read More
Beth Wilson currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and is the staff piano accompanist at Edgewood College. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and has played in the pit orchestra at Overture Center for Broadway touring shows. She performs with the salsa band, Grupo Candella, and as a collaborative pianist has worked with Bernhard Scully (Canadian Brass), Diana Gannett (University of Michigan), and Ansel Norris (New World Symphony).
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Arts + Literature Laboratory is located at 111 S. Livingston Street #100, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703.
Our galleries are open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday noon to 5pm, and other programs take place throughout the week. Please check the events calendar and education section for details.