During the 1960s, he performed and recorded with Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie Hubbard, Johnny Griffin, Steve Lacy and Ahmad Jamal, also working with Blue Mitchell, Erskine Hawkins, John Coltrane and Clifford Jordan.

He co-led, composed and arranged for the Baritone Saxophone Retinue, a six-baritone-saxophone group (with rhythm section) organised with Sun Ra-associated saxophonist Pat Patrick.

As producer of the Monday Night Boat Ride Up The Hudson, Davis presented Art Blakey, George Benson and Etta Jones.

He toured the Netherlands in a salute to the music of Kenny Dorham, and was a guest artist at the 12th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival at Duke University.

He appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the original production of Eduardo Machado's Stevie Wants to Play the Blues, directed by Jim Simpson.

In June 1999, Davis performed with Aaron Bell and the Duke Ellington Tribute Orchestra at the Jackie Robinson Afternoon of Jazz Festival in Norwalk, Connecticut.

In addition to performing and recording with guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and the El Mollenium Band (featuring the music of Elmo Hope), in 2009 Davis toured Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy with the Charles Davis All-stars: A Tribute to Kenny Dorham; the following year, the quintet performed in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

In addition to his own quartet, featuring Tardo Hammer (piano), Lee Hudson (bass) and Jimmy Wormworth (drums), the saxophonist performs with the Spirit of Life Ensemble in the U.S. and Europe.

The Charles Davis Allstars: A Tribute to Kenny Dorham (with Tom Kirkpatrick on trumpet, Claus Raible on piano, Giorgos Antoniou on bass and Bernd Reiter [de] on drums), recorded live at the Bird's Eye in Basel, Switzerland, was released in 2010.

[4] Barry Harris Roni Ben-Hur Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Jeffery Smith Nancie Banks Orchestra Nancie Banks Orchestra Clifford Jordan Clifford Jordan Shirley Scott Muhal Richard Abrams Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim Ricky Ford Philly Joe Jones Philly Joe Jones Dameronia Philly Joe Jones Dameronia Dizzy Reece Cedar Walton Cedar Walton Cedar Walton/Hank Mobley Louis Hayes Roswell Rudd & the Jazz Composer's Orchestra Clark Terry Clark Terry Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison Elvin Jones Kenny Dorham Kenny Dorham Ronnie Mathews Dinah Washington Dinah Washington Dinah Washington Eddie Chamblee Steve Lacy Ahmad Jamal Johnny Griffin Illinois Jacquet Julian Priester Mal Waldron Sam Jones Freddie Hubbard Jazz Composers Orchestra Archie Shepp Archie Shepp Bobby Watson Arkestra members