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Dave Carpenter

Bassist Dave Carpenter has appeared on nearly a hundred recordings in the eight years since coming to Los Angeles. And, he has dozens of television and film themes to his recording credit, as well as soundtracks and countless jingles. He can be heard on films Sideways (2004), Wild Things 2 (2004) and Tom Hanks That Thing You Do! (1996).

Primarily a jazz musician, he left hometown Dayton, Ohio in 1983 to move to New York City where he first toured and recorded with the bands of Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman.

He has worked with major artists of all styles of music, however. The most recent of these touring and recording projects were with Mike Stern, Boz Scaggs, Allan Holdsworth, Randy Travis and Poe.

He most recently been touring and recording with jazz trio consists of pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Peter Erskine. An ongoing cooperative trio with two other releases to its credit Live at Rocco (2000) and Badlands (2002). Their most recent efforts have been Standards and Worth The Wait, both (2007), and Dream Flight (2008).

These three musicians all exhibit a keen interactivity and insight in their approach, with the special touch of Erskine's brushwork, Carpenter's steady pulse and Pasqua's imaginative melodies and soloing.

In August 2006 they performed at Lenox Mass. Festival of Contemporary Music, the Tanglewood Music Center’s annual showcase. “Blood on the Floor;” mixed into the large, percussion-heavy orchestra was a jazz band that included Martin Robertson, the saxophonist; John Parricelli, the guitarist; Dave Carpenter, the bassist, and Peter Erskine, the drummer.

In the best jazz tradition, these musicians all took solos, sometimes augmented by orchestral brass and percussionists. The music’s roots ran everywhere, from the Copland of “Quiet City” to Frank Zappa’s off-kilter zaniness. By turns rambunctious and soulful, this nine-movement suite is raucous and heartfelt.

He appeared as a soloist with the Los Angeles and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras plus Tanglewood and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. Carpenter was a founding member of the “Lounge Art Ensemble."

The consumate studio musician recording with Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Celine Dion, Michele Legrand, Barry Manilow, Jackson Browne, Bernie Taupin, Bill Holman, Toots Thielemans, Brian Wilson, Lalo Schifrin, Ringo Starr, Hubert Laws, Liza Minelli and Michael McDonald.

Dave Carpenter Remembered

by Randall Robinson
July 2, 2008

A Passing Glance Last week, jazz lost a gentleman and journeyman artist valued for his dependability, versatility and swing. One of the west coast's finest session bassists, Dave Carpenter died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 48. After studying music at Ohio State University, he launched his professional career playing with three giants of jazz: Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman. Most recently, Carpenter had been in drummer Peter Erskine's trio, which also included ...

330

Album Review

Andy Summers: Peggy's Blue Skylight

Read "Peggy's Blue Skylight" reviewed by Todd S. Jenkins

by Todd S. Jenkins
March 1, 2001

The former Police guitarist assays the multifaceted works of Charles Mingus on this compelling disc, offering updates of the temperamental bassist’s timeless compositions. Summers previously tackled solid material by Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk and other jazzmen on his 1997 project The Last Dance of Mr. X, with bassist Tony Levin and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Peggy’s Blue Skylight finds Summers and a wider cast mining Mingus’ legacy more deeply, revealing that these classic tunes still have plenty to offer contemporary ...

199

Album Review

Peter Erskine w. Alan Pasqua & David Carpenter: Live at Rocco

Read "Live at Rocco" reviewed by David Adler

by David Adler
April 1, 2000

For nearly ten years Peter Erskine has been putting out exquisite piano trio music on the ECM label, in the company of pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Daniellson. Live at Rocco is the double-disc debut of a new, equally exciting trio completed by pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist David Carpenter — both of whom, incidentally, have done stellar work with Allan Holdsworth. Erksine, Pasqua, and Carpenter have all had the fusion bug at one time or another, but the ...

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Music Industry

Gig Advice from Dave Carpenter

Source: Goings on @ Urban Nerds
March 14, 2010

I was fortunate enough to study with the great bassist Dave Carpenter (Allan Holdsworth, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Boz Skaggs, Peter Erskine) for about a year-and-a-half while I was attending CalArts and I learned a lot from him about music and professionalism. I remember that he had some great, simple advice about the requirements for taking a gig.Dave's simple criteria is as follows: Who's it with? You don't want to turn down a gig to play with a ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Carpenter

Source: Michael Ricci
November 4, 2008

All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Carpenter's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Dave Carpenter

Website | Videos | Articles

Join Dave Carpenter's fan network

Put AAJ's Musician of ...
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241

Obituary

Dave Carpenter L.A.Times Obituary

Source: Michael Ricci
June 30, 2008

Dave Carpenter, 48; jazz bassist co-founded Santa Monica-based Lounge Art Ensemble

Dave Carpenter, a jazz bassist who worked with scores of legendary names, appeared on more than 200 recordings and was a founding member of the Lounge Art Ensemble, died June 23 of a heart attack at his home in Burbank. He was 48. Most recently, Carpenter had been playing in a trio with pianist Alan Pasqua and drummer Peter Erskine and had just released an album called “Standards." A ...
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160

Obituary

Passings: Dave Carpenter, Ronnie Matthews

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
June 30, 2008

Last week, jazz lost two journeyman artists valued for their dependability, versatility and swing. On the west coast, bassist Dave Carpenter died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of forty-eight. Most recently, Carpenter had been in drummer Peter Erskine's trio, which also included pianist Alan Pasqua. A veteran of the Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Bill Holman big bands, he also worked with Bill Perkins, Jack Nimitz, Al Jarreau, Herb Geller, Bill Cunliffe, Jan Lundgren, Terry Gibbs, ...
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408

Obituary

Bassist Dave Carpenter, Nov. 4, 1959 ~ June 24, 2008

Source: Two for the Show Media
June 26, 2008

Dave Carpenter Respected Bassist Dies at 48

Bassist Dave Carpenter appeared on over two hundred recordings, and had dozens of television, film theme and soundtracks to his recording credit. He worked with major artists including Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Mike Stern, Allan Holdsworth, Sadao Watanabe, Alan Pasqua and Herbie Hancock. He appeared as a soloist with the Los Angeles and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras plus Tanglewood and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. Carpenter was a founding member of ...
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106

Performance / Tour

Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, & Dave Carpenter Trio Live at Cal State-Northridge

Source: Two for the Show Media
January 31, 2008

The Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, & Dave Carpenter Trio will appear in concert on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm at the - Cal State University Northridge campus' Music Recital Hall, now known as Cypress Hall. This concert is open to the public and Admission is FREE! The Trio will be playing music from its new Fuzzy Music CD “Standards" ... plus originals! The Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, & Dave Carpenter Trio: Peter Erskine - Drums
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Performance / Tour