Home » Jazz Musicians » Dave Askren

Dave Askren

Los Angeles based Dave Askren has performed with a variety of artists including Bobby Shew, Bob Moses, Antonio Hart, Delfeayo Marsalis, Hendrik Muerkins, David King & Reid Anderson (The Bad Plus), Stuart Hamm, Gray Sargent, Kevin Eubanks, Gary Foster, Tony Rizzi's “Wire Choir” with Pete Christlieb, Mike Vax, Jimmy Branly, as well as pop artists including Marilyn McCoo, Latoya Jackson, Linda Hopkins, Little Anthony, The Coasters, The Platters, The Drifters, The Marvelletes, and Brenton Wood. Dave attended and taught guitar at Boston's Berklee College of Music, and also studied privately with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, pianist Charlie Banacos, guitarist Mick Goodrick and drummers Bob Moses and Bob Gullotti. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Dave has performed/toured with many artists in various styles from Jazz to R&B pop to Classical to Latin. Askren's critically acclaimed release “Re Bill Evans” (String Jazz SJRCD1029), features a guitar/bass/drums trio. Dave is also featured with the latin jazz group Rhubumba (Sea Breeze SB-3067), featuring Bobby Shew. as well as - Some Other Things (Sea Breeze, 2005) Trio Nuevo + (Daway, 2008) It's All About the Groove with Jeff Benedict (Daway, 2013) Among Friends with the Orion Saxophone Quartet (Tapestry, 2013) Come Together with Jeff Benedict (Tapestry, 2017)

Tags

31
Album Review

Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

Read "Denver Sessions" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There are times when a little extra effort goes a long way. To record the Denver Sessions, guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict flew from the Los Angeles area, vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker from New York City to team with the Mile High city's Patrick McDevitt (bass) and Paul Romaine (drums) for Askren and Benedict's twelfth album together and fourth as co-leaders. Was it worth the trip? In one listener's opinion, first-class tickets, no matter the price, would be cheap ...

6
Album Review

Dave Askren / Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

Read "Denver Sessions" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Los Angeles-based guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict collaborate on their fourth album as co-leaders on the Denver Sessions, an exquisite ten-piece set of primarily original music recorded in Denver, Colorado. The leaders have been playing together for around thirty years in the LA area but, for some time, had wanted to perform with New York-based vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker and decided to make it happen with the help of drummer Paul Romaine who encouraged the move to Denver for ...

7
Album Review

Jeff Benedict Big Band: The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

Read "The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful" reviewed by Jack Bowers


As saxophonist Jeff Benedict is a professor emeritus of music at California State University-Los Angeles, he shouldn't be overly concerned if an impartial observer should decide to grade the southern California-based Jeff Benedict Big Band's second album, The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful. After careful listening, herewith is the report card. Brass and reeds: A. Rhythm section: A. Cohesion: A. Swing quotient: A. Soloists: A. Choice of material: A. Arrangements: A. Album title: A+. In ...

4
Album Review

Dave Askren: Come Together

Read "Come Together" reviewed by Geannine Reid


Collaboration and teamwork are always essential elements in any effort that takes the total sum of the parts to create a collective outcome. This is even more so a part of the equation in music. Music is mathematics, but what makes the experience even more enjoyable is the creativity and heart that each player puts into the execution of the mathematically based language. This is immediately evident in Dave Askren and Jeff Benedict's latest project Come Together. The two leaders ...

4
Extended Analysis

Dave Askren and Jeff Benedict: It's All About The Groove

Read "Dave Askren and Jeff Benedict: It's All About The Groove" reviewed by Geannine Reid


Guitarist Dave Askren and Saxophonist Jeff Benedict have teamed up as co-leaders to form an ensemble that explores six standards and four originals with a CD entitled, It's All About The Groove. With Askren and Benedict forming the nucleus of the project, they are joined by drummer Ramon Banda and bassist John Belzaguy. The title of the CD is more than just a likable slogan; for Askren it is the “groove" that holds the backbone of all good jazz and ...

114
Album Review

Dave Askren: Some Other Things

Read "Some Other Things" reviewed by Jim Santella


Guitarist Dave Askren leads a stellar quartet on Some Other Things through a program of modern mainstream jazz originals and one standard. He provides a comfortable ambience, with several layers of harmony all wrapped up in nine lyrical melodies. Typically, the quartet drives straight ahead: forceful to some extent, but still laid-back enough to let the session swing enjoyably.

Askren's guitar voice combines a smooth texture with fluid technique. He and saxophonist Jeff Benedict represent a cool side ...

193
Album Review

Dave Askren: Some Other Things

Read "Some Other Things" reviewed by Edward Blanco


This new release by Los Angeles-based jazz guitarist Dave Askren is his second album in four years with a small ensemble cast. In his first, a trio tribute to Bill Evans titled Re: Bill Evans, Askren recorded with bassist Mike Flick and drummer Steve Sykes. Some Other Things brings together Flick, drummer Jon Nathan, Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict to form the Dave Askren Quartet. Interestingly enough, both recordings are missing a basic rhythm instrument that's common in most musical ...

Read more articles
79

Music Industry

Spotlight: Trio Nuevo +, Dave Askren

Spotlight: Trio Nuevo +, Dave Askren

Source: All About Jazz


95

Recording

Dave Askren - New Latin Jazz CD - "Trio Nuevo +"

Dave Askren - New Latin Jazz CD - "Trio Nuevo +"

Source: All About Jazz

DAVE ASKREN Trio Nuevo + DaWayMusic DW-0020

Dave Askren is featured on nylon string guitar with an all-star rhythm section in this exciting new latin-jazz release. Askren's Los Angeles-based working trio, which includes Brooklyn native Eddie Resto (whose mile-long latin jazz resume includes everyone from Mongo and Tito to both Palmieri brothers) on bass and busy L.A. drummer/percussionist (and Alex Acuna protege) Walter Rodriguez, is complemented by versatile Los Angeles mainstay (20 years with Ponco Sanchez) ...

"This is an excellent CD. The arrangements, and all the quartet members, are outstanding ... another gem from Sea Breeze." —Ric Bang/Enterprise jazz critic

“One of the fresh surprises of this album is guitarist Dave Askren's lyrically flowing bop-flavored guitar lines, which hark back to Wes Montgomery and GrantGreen.” —All About Jazz

"...a thoroughly worthwhile CD. Recommended." —Jazz Now

"...the kind of tribute album that is deserving of its own high regard.. That he succeeds so admirably is worthy of wild applause." —Jazz Review

Read more

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Currently teaching guitar students and jazz ensembles at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State L.A.) Previously taught at Berklee College of Music, Boston.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Denver Sessions

Tapestry Records
2023

buy

Paraphernalia - Music...

Tapestry Records
2020

buy

Come Together

Tapestry Records
2017

buy

Trio Nuevo +

DaWayMusic
2008

buy

Jackie's Idea

From: Denver Sessions
By Dave Askren

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.