Art Davis Explores Rhythmic Link Between Drums, Dance : Pop music: The respected bassist’s concert at Orange Coast College with his quartet will also feature a tap dancer and her foot-driven percussion.

Art Davis has always been one to try something different. The respected bassist, who has worked with the likes of Max Roach and John Coltrane and a number of studio and symphony orchestras while residing in New York, also has a degree in psychology. He has lived in Orange County since 1986.

So for his concerts tonight and Saturday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Davis will feature tap dancer and fellow Orange Coast faculty member Linda Sohl-Donnell, who will contribute foot-driven percussion on a pair of numbers.

“I’ve always been interested in dance,” said Davis recently from his home in Costa Mesa, “especially tap, because it’s an integral part of jazz. Most people these days don’t believe that dancing and jazz go together.” Davis will appear in his quartet, which also includes saxophonist Michael Session, pianist Althea Waits and drummer Gordon Peeke.

This isn’t the first time Davis has worked with a dancer. He watched tapper Baby Lawrence trade fours with drummer Max Roach when he was Roach’s bassist in the late ‘50s. And back in New York he participated in a number of multimedia events presented by pianist Barry Harris in which dancers worked with Harris’ orchestra and choir.

Davis, who has taught courses in music appreciation, cites the historical role dancers have played in jazz. “Dancers and drummers have a symbiotic relationship,” he explained. “One feeds on the other. Dancers listen to the rhythms of the drummer and try to duplicate that, drummers listen to the dancers, sometimes they’re trying to outdo each other. It adds another dimension to the music. And Linda is especially good at that.”

Davis will also do a pair of numbers with guitarists John McEnary and Joe Poshek, both of whom also teach at OCC, including “Blue and Green” from Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue” recording. McEnary and Poshek will both play synthesized guitars while Davis switches to amplified bass.

Because of his extensive background, Davis moves easily between mainstream and avant-garde jazz and classical styles. While in New York, he recorded with Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard and Art Blakey in the early ‘60s and was a member of the NBC, CBS and Westinghouse television orchestras as well as the New York Philharmonic and the Radio City Music Hall Symphony. But he’s probably best known as an associate of sax great John Coltrane--he was bassist on Coltrane’s “Ole,” “Ascension” and “Africa/Brass” recordings. Davis has written a biography of the revered musician that he hopes to publish soon.

Of his myriad endeavors, Davis explained: “I’m fortunate because I like all kinds of music, not just one or two particular types. I think there should be a lot of diversity.”

The Art Davis Quartet will play tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $8.50 advance, $10 at the door; $7.50 for OCC students, seniors over 60 and children 12 and under. Information: (714) 432-5880.