Dave Shepherd
Encyclopedia
David Joseph "Dave" Shepherd (born 7 February 1929) is an English jazz
clarinetist born in London
.
Shepherd began on piano before switching to clarinet at age 16. He studied under a clarinetist from the Hamburg State Opera
Orchestra while stationed in Hamburg
after World War II
. Upon his return to England he played with Reg Rigden (1950), Joe Daniels
(1951–53), and Freddy Randall
(1954–55). He played with Billie Holiday
and Gerry Mulligan
on their tours of Britain. He played in New York City
in 1956 with Ted Kotick, then returned to England to play with Jazz Today Unit (1956–57) and with the Jazz at the Philharmonic (1957). He also played with Mary Lou Williams
several times in the 1950s.
In the 1960s and '70s he played with Randall again and with Teddy Wilson
, as well as at the Montreux Jazz Festival
in 1973 and in South Africa
in 1975. He played in the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band from 1980 to 1999. He led several of his own bands, and has done extensive work producing music for film and television.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinetist born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Shepherd began on piano before switching to clarinet at age 16. He studied under a clarinetist from the Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg State Opera
The Hamburg State Opera is one of the leading opera companies in Germany.Opera in Hamburg dates back to 2 January 1678 when the "Opern-Theatrum" was inaugurated with a performance of a biblical Singspiel by Johann Theile...
Orchestra while stationed in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon his return to England he played with Reg Rigden (1950), Joe Daniels
Joe Daniels
Joe Daniels is an American rock drummer best known as the ex-drummer for Local H.-Local H:In 1987, while attending high school in Zion, IL Daniels and Scott Lucas, eventually formed Local H in 1990. Local H was originally a three-piece band which consisted Joe Daniels on drums, Scott Lucas on...
(1951–53), and Freddy Randall
Freddy Randall
Frederick James 'Freddy' Randall was an English jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Clapton, East London.Randall led the St. Louis Four in 1939, and played as a freelance sideman in the early 1940s. He served in the military during World War II, then played with Freddy Mirfield in a group...
(1954–55). He played with Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
and Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan
Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
on their tours of Britain. He played in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1956 with Ted Kotick, then returned to England to play with Jazz Today Unit (1956–57) and with the Jazz at the Philharmonic (1957). He also played with Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements, and recorded more than one hundred records...
several times in the 1950s.
In the 1960s and '70s he played with Randall again and with Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
, as well as at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
in 1973 and in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1975. He played in the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band from 1980 to 1999. He led several of his own bands, and has done extensive work producing music for film and television.