Davis traveled extensively around Europe after World War II and moved to Paris in 1962. He held a Ph.D in Ethnomusicology from
Wesleyan University and was a professor of music and director of jazz studies at the
University of Pittsburgh from 1969, an academic program that he helped initiate. He was also founder and director of the University of Pittsburgh Annual Jazz Seminar and Concert, the first academic jazz event of its kind in the United States. He also helped to found the university's William Robinson Recording Studio as well as establish the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame located in the school's
William Pitt Union and the University of Pittsburgh-Sonny Rollins International Jazz Archives. Davis retired as director of the Jazz Studies Program at Pitt in 2013. Davis also served as the editor of the
International Jazz Archives Journal. One of Davis' best known musical associations was heading the Paris Reunion Band (1985–1989), which at different times included
Nat Adderley,
Kenny Drew,
Johnny Griffin,
Slide Hampton,
Joe Henderson,
Idris Muhammad,
Dizzy Reece,
Woody Shaw, and
Jimmy Woode. Davis also toured and recorded with the post-bop ensemble leading Roots which he formed in 1991. Davis composed various pieces, including a 2004 opera entitled
Just Above My Head. Davis died of
natural causes in
Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 81. ==Awards and honors==