Anthony Davis (born February 20, 1951 in Paterson, New Jersey) is an African-American composer and jazz pianist. He is influenced by Indonesian music, composed an opera, X, about Malcolm X, and has taught at Yale. He has played with Anthony Braxton and Leo Smith. In 1981 he formed an octet called Episteme. He wrote the incidental music for the Broadway version of Tony Kushner's Angels in America.
He had began to receive attention as a free-jazz pianist as a co-leader or sideman in various groups. The principles of AACM provided some influence and he played with some of their groups such as those of Leo Smith from 1974 to 1977. He utilizes several styles including jazz, rhythm 'n' blues, gospel, non-Western, African, avante-garde and European classical.
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