Born: April 12, 1967 Primary Instrument: Guitar, electric
Introducing Dave Mosick
“Jazz guitarist Dave Mosick has beautiful tone, exquisite technique and a deft touch, all of which point to high quality musicianship. Mosick impresses as a player for the Ages. He has the touch and the tone of a master.” Writes Mark Gallo of www.JazzReview.com.
Dave is definitely a twenty first century Jazz guitarist. His long flowing lines can be at any moment, either linear or angular, legato or staccato, while his rich harmonic textures range from warm lush waves to cold harsh crashes. “ Mosick is percussive and energetic in his attack.... with recurring dissonances resolving to the original line” says Vince Lewis of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine.
Not content to let his playing rest on the crutch of musical complexity, Dave is constantly reaching for the “ sound of surprise “ as a way to take the music to a higher level. Downbeat and Jazz Times music critic Howard Mandel clearly recognized this when he described Dave's playing as “ Chiming song lines and variations into unexpected eddies of thought and feelings”
Although Mosick's conception is forward thinking, he is deeply rooted in the bebop tradition. Frank Matheis, one of New York's top Jazz radio personality's, of WKZE FM / New York says, “. Mosick understands the nuances of the jazz guitar and swings just right, with gentle phrasing and quick-wit improvisational flair tasteful, understated, and, yet, with plenty of spark and vitality”
Inspired by virtuoso guitarists like George Benson and Mike Stern, Mosick has developed a fiery and dynamic improvisational style. “Mosick spans the emotional and conceptual spectrum from mellow, subtle and intimate to muscular, speedy and whimsical.” says Lee Underwood, a former west coast editor of Downbeat magazine.
Born in 1967, and raised on Long Island, Dave got into Rock music very young, and went on to play in bands all through high school and college. While attending American University Dave was deeply inspired by a jazz history class taught by the great Jazz Historian Rusty Hassan , and was bitten by the “ Jazz Bug “ Even though Dave was successfully touring with rock bands after graduation, he was practicing Charlie Parker lines in the hotel rooms while on the road. The challenge of jazz could not be denied. Eventually he settled into the Washington D.C. jazz scene where he studied with guitarists like Paul Bollenback , Paul Wingo and Mark Whitfield. He also studied ear training with Asher Zlotnik and rhythmic training with drummer Tony Martucci and bassist Paul Langosch.
On April 12 2002 Dave Mosick released his debut CD Amalgamation to widespread critical acclaim. Joe Zupan , Jazz Director at WICN FM says , “With this debut recording guitarist Dave Mosick hits the nail on the head not once, but twice. Not only is the playing clear, clever and concise, but the title, “Amalgamation,” also describes exactly what is delivered. Webster's defines the word as “the mixing or blending of different elements,” and that's precisely what Mr. Mosick presents with this recording.”.
One of the reasons the album is so successful is the strength of Mosick's original compositions, which make up more than half of the CD. Mark Gallo of www.jazzreview.com writes “Mosick's own compositions are spellbinding, both for the quick-witted phraseology as well as for the intricately constructed ideas.”
Based in Washington DC , Dave Mosick is maintains a busy schedule performing concerts, festivals and clubs as both a leader and sideman. Dave is also an in demand Jazz educator, regularly hosting clinics and giving private lessons. In August 2003 Dave was the featured jazz guitar clinician at The Washington Jazz Academy. Dave's unique concepts in Jazz Improvisation have been published in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine.
