Home » Jazz Musicians » David Manson

David Manson

David Manson is a trombonist, composer, improvisor, presenter and music technologist with a diverse range of experience in music. His degrees include a doctorate from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He began his performance career with positions in the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra and Memphis Symphony Orchestra and taught low brass and jazz studies at Indiana State University before returning to Florida. He has been soloist and composer with the BONK New Music Festival, Subtropics New Music Festival, Society of Composers and SEAMUS. He has performed and recorded with Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Eugene Chadbourne, John Lindberg, Davey Williams and other innovators.  He has also backed popular artists including Henry Mancini, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Johnny Mathis, Burt Bacharach and toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

David's solo recordings include "Modern Music for Trombone" (lps 3209) and "Beast" (isospin). His releases as leader, composer/arranger and soloist include "Particle Zoo" with ensemble SHIM, "Fluid Motion" with jazz legend Sam Rivers and "Infinita Bossa", "A Kiss for Rio" and "Go!" with Brazilian band O Som Do Jazz and "Radiant Forces" with the Helios Jazz Orchestra. He was trombonist and arranger for Bogus Pomp, a Frank Zappa repertoire band from 1993-2007. 

David is a recipient of Artist Fellowships in music composition from the National Endowment for the Arts, Florida Arts Council and Creative Pinellas, a Fulbright-Hays project in Turkey, an artist feature in the JazzSouth radio program, and grants from Meet The Composer. His orchestral works have been performed by the Florida Orchestra. Recent television placements of his music include HBO, Fox, CW, ABC, BBC and AMC.

David directs the EMIT series of adventurous music at the Salvador Dali Museum and other venues. Through EMIT, David has presented over 500 concerts of adventurous music and educational activities. He was awarded the title of Distinguished Faculty at St. Petersburg College in 2015.

He directs the Helios Jazz Orchestra, leads the Brazilian group O Som Do Jazz and avant-jazz group ERG. He teaches jazz studies and Pro Tools courses in the MIRA (Music Industry/Recording Arts) program at St. Petersburg College. He is the founder and director of the annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, in its 14th season.

Awards

National Endowment for the Arts & Creative Pinellas Individual Artist Award for Composition
St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Individual Artist Award for Composition
Distinguished Faculty title at St. Petersburg College
Fulbright project in Turkey
JazzSouth radio feature for SHIM
two Florida Division of Arts and Culture Fellowships for composition
ASCAP Awards


Tags

105
Album Review

David Manson, Sam Rivers, Doug Mathews, Anthony Cole, Jonathan Powell: Fluid Motion

Read "Fluid Motion" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Two Questions: Who are these guys? And what are they doing with Sam Rivers?

Sorry for the New York-centric approach, but pressing the play button on this disc by Fluid Motion had me scrambling for the lineup. This quintet comes out kicking ass and I hadn’t taken in any names. Except, of course for Sam Rivers, the seventy-something saxophonist, a pillar in the 1960’s avant- movement and New York loft scene of the 70s. After his brief but ...

Read more articles
123

Recording

"Infinita Bossa" - New Release by Brazilian Band O Som Do Jazz

"Infinita Bossa" - New Release by Brazilian Band O Som Do Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

"Infinita Bossa" has been released by Florida-based band O Som Do Jazz (the sound of jazz). The recording of Bossa Nova & MPB includes arrangements of Brazilian works Berimbau, Corcovado, Deixa, Noa Noa, Com Esse Que Eu Vou, Lobo Bobo, Brigas Nunca Mais, Flor de Lis and many others.

Rio de Janeiro vocalist Andrea Moraes Manson is the featured singer in this 16-song CD. Other musicians on the CD include Rgis Moreira, Ademar Fonseca, Roberto Bertone, Alfredo Rivero, David Manson, ...

"Working in more experimental vein, and pushing the boundaries of trombone virtuosity into unexpected directions, Manson has filled this release with a variety of settings for his instrument... Suffice to say the trombone is alive and well, and conspiring with other renegade spirits to form a bestiary of intriguing and kaleidoscopic sound collages." - Marino Guida, Tangents

“Trombonist David Manson has fashioned an extraordinary array of compositions for this quintet, featuring the great saxophonist Sam Rivers... At times, the band purveys a 60s style “Blue Note Records,” sound! But, the thrust of this outing is founded upon bouncy rhythmic structures to coincide with the artists’ expressive unison choruses. Consequently, the title Fluid Motion, denotes just one of the many notable attributes witnessed on this incontestably superb effort! (Zealously recommended…)” —Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

Read more

Primary Instrument

Trombone

Location

Tampa

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Clinic/Workshop Information

David Manson is available for workshops in a variety of topics including:

Music Technology... using new computer applications from a musician's viewpoint

Trombone Through the Ages... a look at the instrument and repertoire from a historical perspective

Making Your Way in Music... skills you need to survive in the business of music

The Real Bossa Nova... how the Brazilians created the most beautiful music on the planet

Read more

Raul De Souza
trombone
George Lewis
trombone
Sam Rivers
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Go!

Isospin Labs
2019

buy

A Kiss for Rio

Isospin Labs
2013

buy

Beast

Isospin Labs
2004

buy

Fluid Motion

Isospin Labs
2002

buy

Particle Zoo

Isospin Labs
1999

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

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