‘Red Dirt Boogie’: Tribute concert set for Jesse Ed Davis

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A sketch of Jesse Ed Davis, based on a photo taken by Howard Tsukamoto in 1973, by Wovoka Trudell son of John Trudell. Image courtesy Wovoka Trudell via LJ Entertainment

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Indianz.Com

Tickets are on sale this week for a concert in honor of Jesse Ed Davis, a Native guitarist who rose to prominence as one of the most talented and in-demand musicians of the 1960s and 1970s.

“Red Dirt Boogie: A Concert Tribute to Jesse Ed Davis” takes place on February 6, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The one-night only event at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center will feature performances by renowned collaborators Jackson Browne and Taj Mahal, as well as Joy Harjo, the first Native person to serve as the U.S. Poet Laureate.

“I knew Jesse as a fellow musician and always appreciated his artistry, his innovation and vision in a time of cultural shift for Native people and this country,” Harjo, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, said in a news release on Tuesday.

“Red Dirt Boogie: A Concert Tribute to Jesse Ed Davis” takes place February 5, 2025, at the at Tulsa Performing Arts Center. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Image courtesy The Bob Dylan Center

Also joining the tribute are members of The Grafitti Band. Davis formed the group to serve as the backing musicians for John Trudell, the late Native poet and activist, on his historic release AKA Grafitti Man.

“We are honored to come together again and shine a light on one of the most gifted, soulful and undeniably talented artists of the twentieth century, brother Jesse Ed Davis,” the reunited members of The Grafitti Band said.

“Jackson Browne and Taj Mahal fully supported and shared in The Grafitti Band journey and we are grateful for their enduring love as we celebrate the incredible artistry Jesse Ed Davis gifted the world,” said musicians Ricky Eckstein, Gary Ray, Quiltman Sahme, Mark Shark and Billy Watts.

Jesse Ed Davis with Eric Clapton: Washita Love Child

In addition to the lineup of musicians, filmmaker Sterlin Harjo, a citizen of the Seminole Nation, will present a reading on the influence of Davis on his career. Davis’s song “Washita Love Child” — featuring the legendary Eric Clapton — appeared in season three of Harjo’s groundbreaking television show “Reservation Dogs.”

Davis, who was born in Oklahoma in 1944, was from the Kiowa Tribe on his mother’s side and the Comanche Nation on his father’s side. He also had ancestry from the Muscogee Nation and the Seminole Nation from his father.

Davis, who passed away in 1988, appeared on solo albums from three of the four members of The Beatles — John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. He also toured with The Faces, playing alongside legends Rod Stewart and Ron Wood.

Despite his prominence, Davis and his work have not been well known. An exhibit at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa titled “Natural Anthem” is finally bringing his legacy to light.

“We intend for this evening to do full justice to Jesse’s remarkable artistry and lasting impact,” said Steven Jenkins, director of the Bob Dylan Center. “While Jesse left us far too early nearly 40 years ago, his music and spirit live on, and I can’t wait to hear what Jackson, Joy, Taj and The Grafitti Band have in store for both longtime fans and newcomers to Jesse’s body of work.”

Tickets for “Red Dirt Boogie: A Concert Tribute to Jesse Ed Davis” are on sale at bobdylancenter.com to members of the Bob Dylan Center on Wednesday and to members of the Jackson Browne Fan Club on Thursday. The general public can buy tickets on Friday at 10am Central.