Dave Bass

David Ira Bass (born June 21, 1950) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and lyricist[1] who has released seven albums: Gone (2010), NYC Sessions (2015), No Boundaries (2019),[2]The Trio Vol.

[7] With a family to support, he chose to enroll in college at the University of California at Irvine, earning his Bachelor of Arts in social ecology and graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1989.

While in San Francisco, Bass performed with the young Bobby McFerrin and with vocalist Jackie Ryan, drummer/percussionist Babatunde Lea and others in various Bay Area venues, including the Keystone Korner.

He recorded ten original compositions with saxophonist Ernie Watts, Babatunde on percussion, bassist Gary Brown, and vocalist Mary Stallings.

The album includes saxophonist Phil Woods, drummer Ignacio Berroa, trombonist Conrad Herwig, and bassist Harvie S, with guest vocalist Karrin Allyson.

[citation needed] Latin-Jazz Network contributor Raul De Gama gave high praise to the album and Bass' piano skills.

Multi-instrumentalist and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member, Ted Nash, co-produced No Boundaries and played on all but one track, featuring Bass in the classic piano trio setting with Bud Powell’s "Hallucinations."

[3] Chris Spector of the Midwest Record said Bass was "showing just how furious a jazzbo he can be as he leads his piano trio through a veritable wing ding of epic proportions.

Glide Magazine's Doug Collette remarked, "ranging from sources including Denny Zeitlin, Bud Powell, Andrew Hill and Bass himself (in four instances), spare takes on unorthodox material sound like an unending exposition of imagination; with consummate grace and alacrity, the musicians contour their motion through the twists and turns of convoluted material commencing so emphatically with Annette Peacock’s”El Cordobes.” Bass invariably leads the charge with his assertive piano work, but he is otherwise hardly more authoritative or lithe of touch than his counterparts Kerry Kashiwagi and Scott Gordon on bass and drums respectively.

Accompanying Bass on this musical adventure are bassist Tyler Miles and drummer Steve Helfand who prove to be exemplary partners and imposingly proficient players.

"[26] MediaVersal said: "The latest release from Dave Bass, "Trio Nuevo," showcases his evolving artistry as a pianist, composer, and arranger.

"[6] Lynn René Baley in The Art Muisc Lounge wrote, "This is really a wonderful CD mixing mainstream jazz with imaginative subtlety and years of experience in knowing how to create solos that are compositions in themselves.