Dave hails from Nottingham
(where he still lives) and took up trumpet at school aged 11,
playing in the band, orchestra and eventually the
Nottinghamshire County Youth Orchestra. His taste for jazz soon
prevailed however and in 1961 he appeared ‘live’ on BBC TV’s
“All Your Own” in the Chequers Jazz Band with five of his school
friends. He formed his own Imperial Jazz Band which in 1962
backed George Melly on a CND Concert at St. Pancras Town Hall,
London.
In the later 1960’s and the 70’s Dave played in various Midlands
jazz outfits notably the Johnny Johnstone All-Stars (still
going) and Jazz Spectrum, formed by pianist Ralph Laing who
later formed Groove Juice Special which Dave joined in 1983.
With GJS he recorded, broadcast on radio and TV and appeared at
jazz festivals including Edinburgh, Brecon, Eindhoven and Breda.
In later years GJS featured a two-trumpet line-up with the
legendary Al Fairweather.
Dave was also a long serving member of Tony’s Cronies, a
Derby-based band led by trombonist Tony Bracegirdle who for many
years organised a series of charity jazz concerts featuring
American jazz stars backed by the Cronies. During this period
Dave was privileged to play alongside the likes of Billy
Butterfield, Warren Vache, Ken Peplowski, Art Hodes, and Howard
Alden. In addition with other bands Dave has played alongside
dozens of British and American jazz legends including Barney
Kessel, Slim Gaillard, Bruce Adams, Bruce Turner, and of course
Humph.
For the last 20 years,
Dave has been a member of the Bob Wilson Jazz and Swing Band and
in 2007 worked with Bob’s band on a two week Mediterranean
cruise aboard Saga Rose. Dave’s varied musical career has seen
him playing fanfare trumpet with a jousting team, venturing into
Jazz-Rock notably with legendary 1970’s Nottingham band Cisco,
and he has also worked with Harlem, the Ken Colyer Trust Band
and Colin Bryant’s Hot Rhythm Orchestra. His most recent venture
is in the Derwent City Jazz Band run by fellow PAJB member
Graham Woodhouse who Dave has known and blown with for over 20
years.
