Kris Davis is a Grammy Award–winning pianist and composer described by The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz [in New York] on a given night.” Widely recognized for her singular compositional voice, rhythmic approach, and distinctive harmonic language, Davis blends elements of jazz, groove, and contemporary classical music to create a sound that has established her as one of the most influential creative voices and collaborators in contemporary jazz. She has released 27 recordings as a leader or co-leader and has collaborated with artists including Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Holland, John Zorn, Craig Taborn, Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey, and esperanza spalding. Davis was named a 2021 Doris Duke Artist and has been voted Pianist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics poll in 2020, 2022, 2025 and 2026. She serves as Associate Program Director of Creative Development at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and Professor of Piano and Composition at The Musik Academie Jazzcampus in Basel, Switzerland. Davis is a Steinway Artist.
“★★★★ For all its freshness and innovation, Davis’ music is precisely and unmistakably the sound of today.”
Mike West, Downbeat
“Pianist and composer Kris Davis makes music that is modal and rhythmic; it’s avant-garde, but inviting. At the Tiny Desk, her trio turns her layered compositions into a mosaic of emotional expression. …. Extraordinary musicians.”
Suraya Mohamed, NPR Tiny Desk
“Kris Davis is a powerhouse and a polymath who never stopped moving forward. … her many pursuits—label founder, teacher, pianist, and composer—are in fact change agents for greater cultural awareness and an expanding creative community.”
Britt Robson, Bandcamp Daily
“★★★★ Constantly compelling … Davis is one of the shrewdest navigators between hooks, idiosyncratic improv and ensemble eloquence.”
John Fordham, JazzWise
“A leading pianist… music with deep roots and a vibrant present.”
Martin Johnson, Wall Street Journal