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Dave Samuels
For over a decade, Samuels has been performing and recording with his group The Caribbean Jazz Project whose most recent CD ‘Afro Bop Alliance’ serves notice that the CJP is the most thoroughly inventive Latin Jazz ensembles of this or any era. The album received a Latin Grammy and was also nominated for a Grammy. Previous cd’s ‘Her and Now – Live in Concert’ and ‘Birds of a Feather’ were nominated for “Best Latin Jazz Recording,”. Their recording ‘The Gathering’ won the Grammy in 2003 for ‘Best Latin Jazz Recording’. Some of his other recording projects include ‘Remembrances’, a percussion recording that features a commissioned marimba concerto for chamber orchestra and soloist composed by Jeff Beal, and ‘Tjaderized - A Tribute to Cal Tjader’ (Verve) that features contributions from some of Cal’s former bandmates Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri, Clare Fischer, Ray Barretto, Michael Wolff and Karl Perazzo as well as performances by Dave Valentin and David Sanchez.
Another one of Samuels project's Double Image—the vibe-marimba duo consisting of Dave Samuels & David Friedman—celebrates thirty years of performing together. It was 1974 when these two masters of mallet percussion first created the unique combination of vibraphone and marimba. What emerged was a totally new sound and approach that has set a new standard for mallet percussionists everywhere. Their recordings have received critical acclaim and their performances have been described as “spellbinding”. Double Image performs music which spans many styles - from jazz standards and original compositions to through- composed pieces and spontaneous improvisations.
Samuels’ longtime association with Spyro Gyra lasted from 1977 to 1994 and includes 20 recordings. During that time, the Grammy-nominated group was named #1 Contemporary Jazz Artist and Contemporary Jazz Group of the ´80s by Billboard magazine .
In addition to his playing, Samuels is a respected educator and author and some of his new works can be found at MalletWorks.com and JazzBooks.com. Samuels has been voted “Best Vibes Player” in both Jazziz and Modern Drummer magazines and received numerous Grammy nominations.
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Gallery: Gallery
by John Kelman
GalleyGalleryECM Records1982 Today's discovery is in my top 10 list of albums screaming for first-time issue on CD by Munich's venerable ECM Records. Gallery was a one-off, teaming vibraphonist Dave Samuels and Oregon's Paul McCandless with cellist David Darling, bassist Ratzo Harris and Michael Di Pasqua--a drummer who, with a resume on the label that included Ralph Towner, Jan Garbarek, Double Image and Eberhard Weber, was well on his way to becoming a label staple ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project: Afro Bop Alliance
by Woodrow Wilkins
Lionel Hampton was one of the first “real" jazz vibraphonists. In more recent years, Gary Burton has been among those who have kept the instrument an integral part of the jazz scene. However, another name is also synonymous with the instrument. That is Dave Samuels.A longtime member of Spyro Gyra who occasionally reunites with the group, performing on a few songs here and there for recordings, Samuels is a master of both the vibraphone and the marimba. He ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels: Mosaic
by Victor Verney
Mosaic is the first studio album since 2003 by the Carribean Jazz Project, led by vibes/marimba specialist Dave Samuels. Drawing on a variety of Afro-Cuban, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Jamaican and other North American rhythms, this release features three different bands. On four tracks, Samuels leads a quintet with keyboardist Alain Mallet, bassist Boris Kozlov, drummer Dafnis Prieto and percussionist Roberto Quintero. Two other tracks feature violinist Christian Howes, and the remaining three selections find Samuels reunited with former CJP co-founders reedman ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project: Here and Now - Live in Concert
by John Kelman
Mallet man Dave Samuels' career has ranged from the experimental, ECM-ish vibe of his '70s Double Image group to an artistically questionable association with the commercially viable smooth jazz group Spyro Gyra. And while those who knew just how much Samuels was capable of were more than a little surprised to see him maintain a long-term relationship with such a lightweight group, he managed to remain credible, always being critically singled out, even as Spyro Gyra itself was often dismissed. ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project: Here and Now - Live in Concert
by Woodrow Wilkins
It seems that every year I get an album that is so impressive, I claim it is the likely to be the best new jazz release of the year. Usually that doesn't happen until August or September. It's only February, and I've already heard two. They may not hold up over the next ten months, but they've set a high standard that will be tough to beat. The first of these is the Caribbean Jazz Project's Here and ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project: The Gathering
by Jim Santella
Dave Valentine and Dave Samuels provide a pleasant Caribbean mood. With flute and marimba out front, the band takes on a natural appearance. Their performance remains as informal as a jazz party on the beach. Samuels' “Rendezvous" begins the session with a guest appearance by Paquito D'Rivera. Recall that the alto saxophonist helped found Caribbean Jazz Project in 1995, along with Samuels and percussionist Andy Narell. Today, the ensemble is as animated as ever, trading fours, quoting from the literature, ...
read moreCaribbean Jazz Project: Paraiso
by Dave Hughes
This is possibly the most intricate, intellectual, and compositionally advanced Latin jazz that's been made to date. Certainly the tri-leaders of the group - vibraphonist Dave Samuels, flautist Dave Valentin, and guitarist Steve Khan - are in the top echelon of performers on their respective instruments, and all have played in a unusually broad range of musical settings throughout their performing careers, and they bring all these resources to this release. The three principals contribute well-thought-out, technically advanced jazz solos ...
read moreDave Samuels, RIP
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
The family of vibraphonist Dave Samuels has confirmed that he died in New York City on April 22. Best known for his association with the jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra, Samuels had battled a long illness. His family did not disclose the cause of death. A Grammy award winner, Samuels was best known for more than three decades as a member of the crossover jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra. He was 70 years old. Before joining Spyro Gyra, Samuels was a member ...
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Dave Samuels Podcast Interview Now Online
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Jazz St. Louis has put online the latest in their series of podcast interviews with musicians who are coming to St. Louis to play Jazz at the Bistro.The latest installment features a conversation with vibraphonist and marimba player Dave Samuels of the Caribbean Jazz Project, who will be here this week to perform Wednesday, March 17 through Saturday, March 20 at the Bistro. You can listen to an audio stream of the interview here, or download it as ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: "Stolen Moments" with Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's spend a little time with Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, who will be in St. Louis Wednesday, March 17 through Saturday, March 20 to perform at Jazz at the Bistro.The group was formed in 1995 when Samuels, who had been the mallet percussionist for Spyro Gyra, joined forces with steel pan player Andy Narell and saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera for a concert in NYC's Central Park. ...
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Dave Samuels, Ron Oswanski, Marko Marcinko - Live June 20th at Trumpets (NJ)
Source:
All About Jazz
Dave Samuels & Organic Vibe Trio Trumpets Jazz Club Montclair, NJ trumpetsjazz.com 7:30pm Start Dave Samuels - Vibraphone Ron Oswanski - Organ Marko Marcinko - Drums Dave Samuels has established himself as the top mallet player of his generation. He is recognized for his fresh new sound and creative approach to both the vibraphone and marimba. Samuels has demonstrated his versatility and gained world wide recognition by performing ...
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Dave Samuels, Ron Oswanski, Marko Marcinko - Live Concert - April 20th
Source:
All About Jazz
Untitled Document
Keystone College Jazz Series Presents:
Dave Samuels - Vibraphone / Ron Oswanski - Organ / Marko Marcinko - Drums
Where: LaPlume, PA - Evans Hall - 7pm
When: Monday April 20th
Information: 570-945-8000
La Plume - The Keystone College Concerts and Lectures Series, in association with the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance, will feature a lineup of nationally recognized musicians during an evening of "Jazz and Java" Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. in Evans Hall, Hibbard Campus ...
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Afro Bop Alliance w/Dave Samuels at the Ram's Head Tavern Sat., Jan.15th Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM
Source:
All About Jazz
January 11, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Afro Bop Alliance at the Ram's Head Tavern Saturday, January 15, 2005. Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM Where: Ram's Head Tavern 33West St. Annapolis, Maryland When: Saturday, January 15, 2005. Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM Reservations 410 268-4545 or www.cubop.com Guest Artist: Dave Samuels, Vibraphonist, Leader of the Grammy Award Winning Latin Jazz Ensemble, The Caribbean Jazz Project. Afro Bop Alliance is a Latin ...
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Afro Bop Alliance w/Dave Samuels at the Ram's Head Tavern Sat., Jan.15th Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM
Source:
All About Jazz
Afro Bop Alliance at the Ram's Head Tavern Saturday, January 15, 2005. Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM Where: Ram's Head Tavern 33West St. Annapolis, Maryland When: Saturday, January 15, 2005. Shows at 6:30 & 9:30 PM Reservations 410 268-4545 or www.cubop.com Guest Artist: Dave Samuels, Vibraphonist, Leader of the Grammy Award Winning Latin Jazz Ensemble, The Caribbean Jazz Project. Afro Bop Alliance is a Latin Jazz Septet based in Annapolis Maryland, performing extensively throughout the Washinton DC-Baltimore area and ...
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Dave Samuels To Appear with Cubop at Rams Head Tavern (Annapolis, MD)
Source:
All About Jazz
Berklee Presents "Four By Four" On 4/4 With Gary Burton, Dave Samuels, Victor Mendoza, and Ed Saindon
Source:
All About Jazz
Four Berklee Faculty Vibists Honor Four Jazz Vibraphone Pioneers: Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, and Cal Tjader
BOSTON -- Used almost exclusively as a jazz instrument, the vibraphone is unique in that all of its best known, established players have made their reputations in the jazz world. On Friday, April 4, 2003, four of those legends will be honored, as four gifted faculty vibists at Berklee College of Music perform a tribute concert honoring four great pioneers of the ...
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Berklee Presents "Four By Four" On 4/4 With Gary Burton, Dave Samuels, Victor Mendoza, And Ed Saindon
Source:
All About Jazz
Four Berklee Faculty Vibists Honor Four Jazz Vibraphone Pioneers: Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, and Cal Tjader
On Friday, April 4, 2003, four gifted vibists on the faculty of Berklee College of Music will perform a tribute concert honoring four great pioneers of the vibraphone. The event is part of the weeklong Percussion Week '03. “Four by Four: A Tribute to Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, and Cal Tjader" begins at 8:15 p.m in the wheelchair-accessible Berklee Performance ...
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Dave Samuels
Instrument: Vibraphone
Born: October 9, 1948
Died: April 22, 2019
