On January 7, 2025, the Kris Davis Trio—featuring pianist Kris Davis, bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Johnathan Blake—delivered a compelling performance at the Village Vanguard. This engagement coincided with the release of their album Run the Gauntlet in September 2024, a tribute to six influential women pianists: Carla Bley, Geri Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Sylvie Courvoisier, Angelica Sanchez, and Renee Rosnes. (krisdavis.bandcamp.com)
The trio's set showcased Davis's innovative compositions, characterized by intricate vamps and grooves that highlight her unique approach to tension and release. Critics noted the performance's dynamic interplay, with Davis's experimental textures complementing Hurst and Blake's rhythmic foundation. (lamentforastraightline.wordpress.com)
This run at the Village Vanguard marked a significant moment in Davis's career, following her 2023 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album on Terri Lyne Carrington’s New Standards, Vol. 1. (mdc.edu) The engagement underscored the trio's cohesive synergy and Davis's continued evolution as a leading voice in contemporary jazz.
