Dave MacKay
Encyclopedia
Dave Mackay is a Jazz pianist
, singer-composer with roots in Art Tatum, Bud Powell, and Bill Evans who favors the standards of the 1940s and 1950s and the bossa novas of Luíz Eça
, Antonio Carlos Jobim
and João Gilberto
when performing.
, Connecticut, from 1950–54, where he was the first blind student to graduate, Boston University
from 1956–58, where he studied with Lennie Tristano
, the Lenox School of Jazz where he studied with Margaret Charloff, and The Hardford School of Music where he studied with Asher Zlotnik.
In the mid 60's Dave joined the Hindustani Jazz Sextet with Don Ellis, Harihar Rao, who played sitar and tabla, vibraphonist Emil Richards, drummer Steve Bohannon, bassists Chuck Domanico and Ray Neapolitan. The band performed mainly original compositions which had titles like "Sweet Nineteen", "Turks Works", and "Bombay Bossa Nova". Dave also played with the Don Ellis Orchestra in the mid 60's. The Don Ellis Orchestra was distinguished by its unusual instrumentation (which in its early days had up to three bassists and three drummers), incorporated Indian musical elements into modern big-band writing, and different time signatures such as 5/4, 7/8, and 9/4, and more complex rhythmic cycles like 19/4 and 27/16 and its occasionally wacky humor (highlighted by an excess of false endings) and an openness towards using rock rhythms. In 1966 the Orchestra earned a place at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Following this successful breakthrough performance, the band performed at the Pacific Jazz Festival in October 1966, and at Shelly's Manne Hole in March 1967, releasing segments of each on 1967's Live in 3 2/3 4 Time (Pacific Jazz).
In the late 60's Dave and Vicky Hamilton formed a duo and produced three recordings together. The albums include sunshine pop and the groovy side of jazz in many odd time signatures. The duo sings together on most of their tracks, with a mixed male/female vocal approach. Dave plays Fender Rhodes and piano on the albums. The tunes are mostly originals penned by the pair, and instrumentation on the record includes flute and saxes from Ira Schulman and guitar from Joe Pass.
In the mid 70's Dave, Bill Henderson, and Joyce Collins formed a unique trio which toured the northwest with Bill Cosby with favorable reviews. The trio recorded two Grammy nominated albums for Discovery- "Street of Dreams" (1980) and "Johnny Mercer Tribute". In 1981 Dave, Bill, and Joyce performed their music on the TV show Ad Lib, hosted by composer and pianist Phil Moore.
In the late 80's Dave, Lori Bell, and Ron Satterfield formed the group "Interplay". Their first album titled "Interplay" was selected on the Grammy ballot in four categories, including Best Instrumental Composition; Dave Mackay – (Joyful), Best Instrumental Solo; Dave Mackay – (Joyful), and best Jazz Instrumental Performance of a Group; "Interplay".
In the '90s, Dave teamed up with Stephanie Haynes. The duo recorded a CD called "Two On A Swing" for Why Not Records. On their CD, Dave is sometimes only barely hinting at the more conventional chords to the standards with hair-raising accompaniment. The interplay between voice and piano on "Easy to Love" and the witty "Everything But You" are high points on this very satisfying and sometimes unpredictable CD.
Dave has also performed with Serge Chaloff
, Sonny Stitt
, Bob Wilber
, Bobby Hackett
, Jim Hall
, Don Ellis
, Emil Richards
, Shelly Manne
, Chet Baker
, Joe Pass
, Warne Marsh, Kai Winding, Stephanie Haynes, and Tierney Sutton at some of the top Jazz clubs in the country including, Boston's Storeyville and Jazz Workshop, New York's Left Bank and Village Vanguard, and Chicago's Mr. Kelly's, Shelly's Manne Hole, The Lighthouse, Donte's Jazz Supper Club, and the Samoa House
Dave's original compositions include "Love Will Win", "Melissa", "Hands", "Joyful", "Blues for Polly-O", "Three for Five", "Blessings and Free", Samba For Vicky", "Now" and "Here". "Now" and "Here" were later recorded by Cal Tjader
, and "Samba For Vicky" was later recorded by the Baja Marimba Band
. In addition Dave co-wrote "Like Me", "Peek-A-Boo", Will-O-The-Wisp" and "See My Rainbow" Dave also wrote a majority of the music (with lyricist Barbara Schill) for a hit stage musical comedy entitled "Is It Just Me, Or Is It Hot In Here?" (music by Dave Mackay & Barbara Schill; book & lyrics by Barbara Schill) It appeared to sold out audiences (1995–1998) first at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, then CBS Studio Center in Burbank, the Odyssey Theatre and Century City Playhouse.
Over the years Dave's music has been described as, magical, lyrical, incredibly fluent, any key, any song he's got it, one of the world's better accompanists, an awesome impressive jazz style, rhythmically articulate piano, a remarkable pianist, wistful piano, an implicit ensemble sense of swing, hip, full of joy, spark, and fire, and one of the Southland's finest pianists.
Still in prime form at age 78, Dave continues to perform regularly in and around the Los Angeles area.
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
, singer-composer with roots in Art Tatum, Bud Powell, and Bill Evans who favors the standards of the 1940s and 1950s and the bossa novas of Luíz Eça
Luíz Eça
Luiz Mainzi da Cunha Eça was a Brazilian jazz samba and bossa nova pianist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, probably best known for his 1960s work with the bossa nova Tamba Trio/Tamba 4...
, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
and João Gilberto
João Gilberto
João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira, known as João Gilberto , is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. His seminal recordings, including many songs by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, established the new musical genre of Bossa nova in the late 1950s.-Biography:From an early age, music...
when performing.
Biography
Dave attended Trinity CollegeTrinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
, Connecticut, from 1950–54, where he was the first blind student to graduate, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
from 1956–58, where he studied with Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano
Leonard Joseph Tristano was a jazz pianist, composer and teacher of jazz improvisation. He performed in the cool jazz, bebop, post bop and avant-garde jazz genres. He remains a somewhat overlooked figure in jazz history, but his enormous originality and dazzling work as an improviser have long...
, the Lenox School of Jazz where he studied with Margaret Charloff, and The Hardford School of Music where he studied with Asher Zlotnik.
In the mid 60's Dave joined the Hindustani Jazz Sextet with Don Ellis, Harihar Rao, who played sitar and tabla, vibraphonist Emil Richards, drummer Steve Bohannon, bassists Chuck Domanico and Ray Neapolitan. The band performed mainly original compositions which had titles like "Sweet Nineteen", "Turks Works", and "Bombay Bossa Nova". Dave also played with the Don Ellis Orchestra in the mid 60's. The Don Ellis Orchestra was distinguished by its unusual instrumentation (which in its early days had up to three bassists and three drummers), incorporated Indian musical elements into modern big-band writing, and different time signatures such as 5/4, 7/8, and 9/4, and more complex rhythmic cycles like 19/4 and 27/16 and its occasionally wacky humor (highlighted by an excess of false endings) and an openness towards using rock rhythms. In 1966 the Orchestra earned a place at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Following this successful breakthrough performance, the band performed at the Pacific Jazz Festival in October 1966, and at Shelly's Manne Hole in March 1967, releasing segments of each on 1967's Live in 3 2/3 4 Time (Pacific Jazz).
In the late 60's Dave and Vicky Hamilton formed a duo and produced three recordings together. The albums include sunshine pop and the groovy side of jazz in many odd time signatures. The duo sings together on most of their tracks, with a mixed male/female vocal approach. Dave plays Fender Rhodes and piano on the albums. The tunes are mostly originals penned by the pair, and instrumentation on the record includes flute and saxes from Ira Schulman and guitar from Joe Pass.
In the mid 70's Dave, Bill Henderson, and Joyce Collins formed a unique trio which toured the northwest with Bill Cosby with favorable reviews. The trio recorded two Grammy nominated albums for Discovery- "Street of Dreams" (1980) and "Johnny Mercer Tribute". In 1981 Dave, Bill, and Joyce performed their music on the TV show Ad Lib, hosted by composer and pianist Phil Moore.
In the late 80's Dave, Lori Bell, and Ron Satterfield formed the group "Interplay". Their first album titled "Interplay" was selected on the Grammy ballot in four categories, including Best Instrumental Composition; Dave Mackay – (Joyful), Best Instrumental Solo; Dave Mackay – (Joyful), and best Jazz Instrumental Performance of a Group; "Interplay".
In the '90s, Dave teamed up with Stephanie Haynes. The duo recorded a CD called "Two On A Swing" for Why Not Records. On their CD, Dave is sometimes only barely hinting at the more conventional chords to the standards with hair-raising accompaniment. The interplay between voice and piano on "Easy to Love" and the witty "Everything But You" are high points on this very satisfying and sometimes unpredictable CD.
Dave has also performed with Serge Chaloff
Serge Chaloff
Serge Chaloff was an American jazz baritone saxophonist.The son of noted Boston piano teachers, Margaret and Julius Chaloff, he was among the few major jazz performers on his instrument. Until Chaloff the only prominent baritone player in jazz was Harry Carney of the Duke Ellington Orchestra...
, Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
, Bob Wilber
Bob Wilber
Bob Wilber is an internationally recognized American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and band leader living in Chipping Campden, England. Although his scope covers a wide range of jazz, Wilber has been a dedicated advocate of classic styles, working throughout his career to present traditional jazz...
, Bobby Hackett
Bobby Hackett
Robert Leo "Bobby" Hackett was an US jazz musician who played trumpet, cornet and guitar with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman in the late thirties and early forties.-Biography:...
, Jim Hall
Jim Hall (musician)
James Stanley Hall is an American jazz guitarist.-Biography:Educated at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Hall moved to Los Angeles where he began to attract national, and then international, attention in the late 1950s...
, Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...
, Emil Richards
Emil Richards
Emil Richards, born Emilio Joseph Radocchia on September 2, 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut, is a percussionist who plays a variety of different percussion instruments.-Biography:...
, Shelly Manne
Shelly Manne
Shelly Manne , born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing...
, Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
, Joe Pass
Joe Pass
Joe Pass was an Italian-American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century...
, Warne Marsh, Kai Winding, Stephanie Haynes, and Tierney Sutton at some of the top Jazz clubs in the country including, Boston's Storeyville and Jazz Workshop, New York's Left Bank and Village Vanguard, and Chicago's Mr. Kelly's, Shelly's Manne Hole, The Lighthouse, Donte's Jazz Supper Club, and the Samoa House
Dave's original compositions include "Love Will Win", "Melissa", "Hands", "Joyful", "Blues for Polly-O", "Three for Five", "Blessings and Free", Samba For Vicky", "Now" and "Here". "Now" and "Here" were later recorded by Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader
Callen Radcliffe Tjader, Jr. a.k.a. Cal Tjader was a Latin jazz musician, though he also explored various other jazz idioms. Unlike other American jazz musicians who experimented with the music from Cuba, the Caribbean, and Latin America, he never abandoned it, performing it until his...
, and "Samba For Vicky" was later recorded by the Baja Marimba Band
Baja Marimba Band
The Baja Marimba Band was a popular musical group led by marimba player Julius Wechter, initially intended by producer Herb Alpert to cash in on the "south of the border" craze started by his own Tijuana Brass...
. In addition Dave co-wrote "Like Me", "Peek-A-Boo", Will-O-The-Wisp" and "See My Rainbow" Dave also wrote a majority of the music (with lyricist Barbara Schill) for a hit stage musical comedy entitled "Is It Just Me, Or Is It Hot In Here?" (music by Dave Mackay & Barbara Schill; book & lyrics by Barbara Schill) It appeared to sold out audiences (1995–1998) first at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, then CBS Studio Center in Burbank, the Odyssey Theatre and Century City Playhouse.
Over the years Dave's music has been described as, magical, lyrical, incredibly fluent, any key, any song he's got it, one of the world's better accompanists, an awesome impressive jazz style, rhythmically articulate piano, a remarkable pianist, wistful piano, an implicit ensemble sense of swing, hip, full of joy, spark, and fire, and one of the Southland's finest pianists.
Still in prime form at age 78, Dave continues to perform regularly in and around the Los Angeles area.
As leader
- Dave Mackay and Interplay, Live at the New York Grill (Lori Bell, Dave Mackay, Ron Satterfield, God Now Records, 2004)
- Dave Mackay, Lori Bell, and Ron Satterfield, Interplay Self Titled (Webster's Last Word, 1997)
- Dave Mackay, Lori Bell, and Ron Satterfield, Interplay Promotional DVD (Lori Bell, 1993)
- Stephanie Haynes and Dave Mackay, Two On A Swing (Why Not Records, 1994)
- The Dave Mackay Trio, Windows (bassist Andy Simpkins, drummer Ralph Penland, MAMA Foundation, 1990)
- Dave Mackay & Lori Bell Sextet, Take Me To Brazil (Bob Magnusson Bass, Duncan Moore Drums, John Pisano Guitar, Melissa Mackay Vocals, Discovery, 1988)
- Dave Mackay Trio, Love Will Win (Lori Bell and bassist Andy Simpkins, Discovery, 1983)
- Dave Mackay, Andy Simpkins, Joey Baron, Happying (Studio 7 Records, 1977)
- Dave Mackay with Vicky Hamilton, Hands (Andy Simpkins, Joey Baron, Ira Schulman, Chuck Domanico, Joe Porcaro, Ray Neapolitan, Discovery, 1983, Recorded in 1969 & 1983)
- Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton, Rainbows (Joe Pass, Ira Schulman, Chuck Domanico, Colin Bailey, Impulse, 1970)
- Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton, Self Titled (Ira Schulman, Ray Neapolitan, Joe Porcaro, Francisco Aguabella, Impulse, 1969)
- The Dave Mackay Trio, Plays Progressive (Dave Mackay(Piano), Don Mackay(Drums), Cliff Gunn(bass), Craft Recording Co. 1955)
As sideman
- Lori Bell, Self Titled (Lori Bell (flute), Dave Mackay (piano), Ron Satterfield (guitar), Beezwax, 2002)
- Emil Richards, LunTana (Francisco Aguabella, Luis Conte, Chuck Domanico, Michael Lang, Dave Mackay, Al McKibbon, Joe Porcaro, Emil Richards and Efrain Toro, Interworld, 1996)
- Bill Henderson, A Tribute to Johnny Mercer (Joyce Collins & Dave Mackay, Joey Baron, Discovery, 1982)
- Bill Henderson, Something's Gotta Give (Dave Mackay, Jim Hughart, Jimmie Smith, Joyce Collins, Pete Christlieb, Discovery, 1979)
- Bill Henderson, Street of Dreams (Bill Henderson (vo), Joyce Collins (vo,p), Dave Mackay (el-p,p), Pate Christlieb(ts), Jim Hughart(b), Jimmie Smith(dr), Discovery, 1979)
- Warne Marsh Quartet, Live at Donte's' (Warne Marsh (ts), Dave Mackay (p), Fred Atwood (b), Frank Severino (d), Private Recordings, 1976)
- Bill Henderson Live, ‘Joey’ Revisited (Steve LaSpina's ‘Lespina’, Dave Mackay ‘Malachai’, Bill Henderson, Joyce Collins, Jerry Coleman, discovery 1976)
- Bill Henderson and His Special Friends Live at the Times (Joyce Collins, Dave Mackay, Tom Azarello & Jimmy Smith, Discovery, 1975)
- Warne Marsh Quartet, Live at The Times Restaurant (Warne Marsh (ts), Lou Levy (p), Dave Mackay (p), Fred Atwood (b), Dick Borden (d), Private Recordings, 1975)
- Emil Richards, The Spirit of 1976 (Live at Donte's with Emil Richards, Dave Mackay, Ray Neapolitan, Joe Porcaro, Mark Stevens, Impulse 1969)
- The Aquarians, Jungle Grass (Vladimir Vassilieff, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Pass, Francisco Aquabella, Dave Mackay, Creative Complex and UNI,1969)
- Emil Richards, Journey to Bliss (Dave Mackay, Dennis Budimir, Tommy Tedesco, Ray Neapolitan, Joe Porcaro, Michael Craden, Mark Stevens, Impulse 1967)
- Emil Richards, New time Element (Featuring Emil Richards, Tom Scott, Paul Beaver, Dave Mackay, Uni, 1967)
- Don Ellis Orchestra, Live in 3 2/3 /4 (recorded in 1966 at Shelley's Manne Hole in Los Angeles and Pacific Jazz Festival in Costa Mesa, California, Pacific Jazz records, 1967)
- Don Ellis Octet, Pieces of Eight (features Tom Scott and Dave Mackay recorded in 1967 UCLA, Wounded Bird Records, 2006)
- Don Ellis Orchestra, Live at Monterey (live in 1966 at the Monterey Jazz Festival and The Pacific Jazz Festival, Costa Mesa, California, Blue Note, 1966)
- Chet Baker, In a Soulful Mood (live 1966 & 1968, Sal Nistico, Phil Urso, Dave Mackay, Lorne Lofsky, Chris Connors, Chuck Domanico, Art Frank, Harry Kevis Jr., Music Club, 1997)
- Chet Baker, Live at Pueblo, Colorado (live 1966, Phil Urso, Dave Mackay, Chuck Domanico, Harry Kevis Jr., CC Baker Productions, 1992)
- Chet Baker, Round Midnight (Chet Baker, Harry Keevis Jr., Dave Mackay, Chuck Domanico, Phil Urso, Recorded live in Pueblo, Colorado in 1966, City Hall Records 2003)
- Chet Baker, Live at Gaetano's (Phil Urso, Dave Mackay, Chuck Domanico, Harry Kevis Jr., Pueblo, Colorado., summer 1966)
- Chet Baker, Milestone (Phil Urso, Dave Mackay, Chuck Domanico, Harry Kevis Jr., Pueblo, Colorado., summer 1966)
- Bill Henderson, When My Dreamboat Comes Home (Joyce Collins(p), Dave Mackay(ep), Steve LaSpina(b), Jerry Coleman (d), Verve, 1965)
- Hank Bagby Soultet, Opus One (Hank BagbyHank BagbyBorn in Los Angeles, Hank Bagby was originally a singer around Denver in the mid-1940s. He started playing sax in San Francisco in the late 1940s and worked with such musicians as Leo Wright, Kenny Drew, and the late Addison Farmer. In the early 1950s, he worked in Los Angeles with the late Joe...
Soultet(sax), Chuck Foster (Trumpet), Chiz Harris (drums), Al Hines(Bass), Dave Mackay(at piano), Protone Music, 1964) - Kai Winding Septet, Ohio Penitentiary Show (Kai Winding(tb), Larry Boyle (tb), Chip Hoehler (tb), Jack Gale (btb), Dave Mackay(p), Jim Stevenson(b), Bobby Pike(dm), Private Recording, September 6, 1961)
- Lenox School of Jazz Concert (Featuring Ornette ColemanOrnette ColemanOrnette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
alto sax, Don Cherry trumpet, Kenny Dorham trumpet, Dave Mackay piano, Berkshire Music Barn, Lenox, Mass, Aug., 29th, 1959)