Biography Dave Samuels

Dave Samuels (October 9, 1948 – April 22, 2019) was an American vibraphonist and marimba player who spent many years with the contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra. His recordings and live performances during that period also reflect his prowess on the steelpan, a tuned percussion instrument of Trinidadian origin.

Samuels was born in Waukegan, Illinois. At the age of six he started playing drums and piano. He learned vibes and marimba while a student at Boston University. He continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music, also in Boston, and studied with vibraphonist Gary Burton. He taught percussion at Berklee before moving to New York City in 1974. Soon he was recording and performing with Gerry Mulligan, Carla Bley, and Gerry Niewood. He played in a vibe/marimba duo with David Friedman, who had been his teacher at Boston, releasing albums under the name Double Image.

In 1979 he began recording with Spyro Gyra, eventually becoming a member of the band in 1986 and remaining with it through the 1990s. During the 1980s he also recorded with Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Anthony Davis, and Bobby McFerrin. In 1993 he created the Caribbean Jazz Project.

Samuels wrote columns for the magazines Modern Percussionist and Modern Drummer, a method book, and made an instructional video. He has taught at Berklee and at the New England Conservatory of Music.

On April 22, 2019, the official Spyro Gyra Facebook page reported that Samuels had died at age 70, due to an undisclosed long-term illness.

Discography

1980 One Step Ahead (Dire Silverline)

1988 Living Colors (MCA)

1989 Ten Degrees North (MCA)

1989 Fountainhead with Andy LaVerne (SteepleChase)

1991 Natural Selection (GRP)

1992 Del Sol (GRP)

1994 Synergy with Samuels (Tall Poppies)

1998 Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute (Verve/Polygram)

2006 Mosaic (Concord)

2007 Dualism

With Spyro Gyra

1978 Spyro Gyra

1979 Morning Dance

1980 Catching the Sun

1980 Carnaval

1981 Freetime

1982 Incognito

1983 City Kids

1984 Access All Areas

1985 Alternating Currents

1986 Breakout

1987 Stories Without Words

1988 Rites of Summer

1989 Point of View

1990 Fast Forward

1992 Three Wishes

1993 Dreams Beyond Control

1995 Love and Other Obsessions

1996 Heart of the Night

1997 20/20

1999 Got the Magic

2003 Original Cinema

2004 The Deep End

2006 Wrapped in a Dream

2008 A Night Before Christmas

With Caribbean Jazz Project

1995 The Caribbean Jazz Project

1997 Island Stories

2000 New Horizons

2001 Paraiso

2002 The Gathering

2003 Birds of a Feather

2005 Diane Schuur Featuring Caribbean Jazz Project – Schuur Fire

2005 Here and Now: Live in Concert

2006 Mosaic

2008 Afro Bop Alliance

With Double Image

1977 Double Image

1994 Open Hand

As sideman

With Gerry Mulligan

1974 Carnegie Hall Concert (CTI), Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan

1976 Idol Gossip

1995 Dragonfly

With others

1977 Gerry Niewood and Timepiece, Gerry Niewood & Timepiece

1978 Dawn, David Friedman

1978 Zappa in New York, Frank Zappa

1979 All the Mornings Bring, Paul McCandless

1981 Gallery, Gallery

1981 The Navigator, Paul McCandless

1981 Skylight, Art Lande

1983 Hemispheres, Anthony Davis

1986 Storytime, T Lavitz

1991 Cool Running, Jeremy Wall

1991 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4, Frank Zappa

1992 Red Sun, Dave Valentin

1992 Stepping to the New World, Jeremy Wall

1993 A Night in Englewood, Paquito D'Rivera & the United Nation Orchestra

1993 Arc, Jimmy Haslip

1994 Picture Perfect Morning, Edie Brickell

1994 Two Hearts, Peter Kater

1994 We Live Here, Pat Metheny

1994 World Tour, Jason Miles

1997 Playin' Hooky, Bob James

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