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David Binney

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist David Binney is one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, David was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of "players who have created an alternative jazz-scene... all of whom are playing adventurous, original music."

David has recorded 20+ albums as leader or co-leader and recorded on more than 300 other albums.

David was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in Southern California. At the age of 19 moved to New York City and lived there for many years. He now resides in Los Angeles. And Produces records and performs worldwide. He also mixes and masters records.

Creator/Producer of the band that was David Bowie's Blackstar.

Known for his performances and recordings with such prestigious groups as Knower (Louis Cole, Genevieve Artadi), Chrissie Hynde, Gil Evans, Maria Schneider, Jim Hall, Uri Caine, Vinicius Cantuaria, Carlinhos Brown, Norah Jones, Antonio Sanchez, Wayne Krantz, Chris Potter, Nguyen Le, Miles Okazaki,  Joe Locke, Edward Simon, Dan Weiss, Alex Sipiagin, Joel Harrison,  Bobby Previte, Cecil McBee and countless others. David was also a co-founder of the hard-edged quintet "Lost Tribe" and the open-form collective quartet "Lan Xang."

David’s distinctive saxophone sound and innovative compositions have been heard from basement clubs in New York to jazz festivals in Europe and the world. David has also appeared with Aretha Franklin at Carnegie Hall, and with Jamiroquai, Maceo Parker, to name a few. He has produced all of his own 30 albums, and many others including two of the Lost Tribe releases, 7 Donny McCaslin releases and a Scott Colley “The Architect of the Silent Moment.”. David started his record label, Mythology Records, in 1998. David also created the group the Donny McCaslin group that eventually became the group on David Bowie’s #1 record Blackstar.

He has won the Downbeat Critics Poll 3 different times in the Alto Saxophone category. And placed in Producer, Album, et al.. Has had front cover features in Downbeat and Jazz Times, featured in the NY Times Art section, and many other publications.

The albums that David owns are available on this site. All of his other albums, in addition to the ones on this site, are readily accessible on most streaming platforms. And most are available physical CDs/LP's.

Teaching: David has been teaching worldwide for many years. Besides teaching privately in person and via Zoom, Skype etc..

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5
Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Hiromi, Usein Bekirov, Mohini Dey And David Binney

Read "New Music From Hiromi, Usein Bekirov, Mohini Dey And David Binney" reviewed by Len Davis


The latest release from Hiromi Sonic Wonderland, from Ukraine Drummer Usein Bekirov with Randy Brecker and Hadrien Feraud Sato, bassist from Spain Vincen Garcia Why Not his new single and Mohini Dey with more from her latest. Drummer Nicolas Viccario from Metropolitan Souk with pianist Ruslan Sirota and bassist Hadrien Feraud. Polish guitarist Apotolis Anthimos Come Together, Austrian pianist David Helbock from Austrian Syndicate, Jaak Sooaar guitarist from Estonia withZula and David Binney from Action . Norwegian guitarist Hedvig Mollestad ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Randy Bernsen, Jaco Pastorius, Bob Berg and Larry Coryell

Read "Randy Bernsen, Jaco Pastorius, Bob Berg and Larry Coryell" reviewed by Len Davis


From the '70s to 2005. Drummer Horace Arnold, Randy Bernsen, with Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Miley from Altered and David Binney from his album Point Game. The late Bob Berg from In The Shadows with Mike Stern, Tom Coster with Dennis Chambers and the late Larry Coryell with Spaces Revisited from 1997. Plus French Canadian bassist Alain Caron with Jerry De Villiers jnr. Playlist Horace Arnold “Chinnereth" from Tales Of The Exonerated Flea (Columbia) 00:00 Randy Bernsen “Olde Hats" ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Adam Nitti, Matteo Mancusco, David Binney and Ollie Usiskin

Read "Adam Nitti, Matteo Mancusco, David Binney and Ollie Usiskin" reviewed by Len Davis


Bassist Adam Nitti, Italian guitarist Matteo Mancusco, MAMOGI with Mohini Dey, Israeli guitarist Nilli Brosh with Virgil Donati and Japanese bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. Jazz from Ray LeVier, David Binney and John Escreet and Indian Pianist Lydian Nadhaswaram. UK drummer Ollie Usiskin with his latest Trio Zone completes the hour.Playlist Adam Nitti “Antisocial Media" from Not Of This World (Renaissance Man) 00:00 Matteo Mancusco “Samba Party" from The Journey (Mascot) 0:05:27 MAMOGI “Dirty MFR" from Dirty MFR (Self Produced) ...

35
Album Review

Mark Lockett: Swings & Roundabouts

Read "Swings & Roundabouts" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The “free jazz" movement has come a long way since its introduction mid-20th century by pathfinders like Tadd Dameron, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Andrew Cyrille, Lester Bowie and their kin. The music, which favors free expression in lieu of customary chordal, rhythmic and harmonic precepts, was at times puzzling, even painful, to unscramble. Over the years, free jazz has tempered to some extent its revolutionary aspects, one example of ...

37
Album Review

Vince Mendoza/Metropole Orkest: Olympians

Read "Olympians" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Eight-time Grammy-winning composer/arranger Vince Mendoza, born and raised in Norwalk, CT, has enjoyed great success overseas--in Europe, to be more precise--since releasing an album with Germany's WDR Big Band in 1994. The following year, Mendoza began collaborating with the Dutch Metropole Orkest and in 1998 was named its principal guest conductor. Olympians is Mendoza's third recording with the massive, string-laden Metropole. He has recorded other albums with the London and Czech Symphony Orchestras. Here in the U.S., ...

9
Album Review

Vince Mendoza Metropole Orkest: Olympians

Read "Olympians" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Many years ago Dizzy Gillespie recorded an album called The New Continent (Limelight, 1965). Whether it was commercially successful is hard to say, but it featured an all-star cast of Los Angeles session players. The recording made a deep impression on some listeners because it was creative, dynamic, exotic and simply enjoyable. Good compositions (by Lalo Schifrin), arrangements and musicians will do that, even if the result is a bit different than mainstream jazz. Or mainstream Gillespie. ...

7
Liner Notes

David Binney: Barefooted Town

Read "David Binney: Barefooted Town" reviewed by Josef Woodard


Continuing Saga of the Strong Seeker I remember distinctly during the 2007 Montreal Jazz Festival, sifting through and measuring up the usual blur of stimuli, seeking out the prizes among prizes in the program. In one corner, there was Wayne Shorter, in the finest of his performance I'd ever heard—playing up his suits as composer and soloist by meshing his free-wheeling quartet and the score-heeding Imani Winds. And then, in another corner, as part of the late night haunt of ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist David Binney is one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, David was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “players who have created an alternative jazz-scene... all of whom are playing adventurous, original music." David has recorded 20+ albums as leader or co-leader and recorded ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist David Binney is one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, David was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “players who have created an alternative jazz-scene... all of whom are playing adventurous, original music." David has recorded 20+ albums as leader or co-leader and recorded ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist David Binney is one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, David was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “players who have created an alternative jazz-scene... all of whom are playing adventurous, original music." David has recorded 20+ albums as leader or co-leader and recorded ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music." Known for his performances with such prestigious groups as ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

2

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today!

Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today! Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Jazz Musician of the Day: David Binney

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating David Binney's birthday today! Acclaimed as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent, saxophonist Dave Binney is one of the most prolific young jazz musicians on the scene today. Winning praise from critics and colleagues alike, Dave was recently singled out by Jazz Times as one of a handful of “young players who have created an alternative jazz scene...all of whom are playing adventurous, original music... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget ...

"...a strikingly original composer, leader, conceptualist."  —DownBeat Magazine

"David Binney possesses one of the most original minds in contemporary music." —Stereophile

"Add David Binney's dynamic voice on saxophone and his great writing to the chorus of creators re-invigorating jazz." —The Montreal Gazette

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, alto

Location

Los Angeles

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Olympians

Modern Recordings
2023

buy

Swings & Roundabouts

Thick Records
2023

buy

Suspenso

Carimbo Porta-jazz
2022

buy

Shine Thru

Outside in Music
2022

buy

Aerial 2

Mythology Records
2021

buy

Quixote

From: Olympians
By David Binney

Dança Macabra

From: Suspenso
By David Binney

All of Time

From: Graylen Epicenter
By David Binney

Everybody's Wonderland

From: In the Paint
By David Binney

Wild Child

From: Out of Airplanes
By David Binney

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