About Dave
Opportunities to play with luminaries such as Brandon Block and the BBC's Andrew Marston didn't materialise overnight; it's been an amazing rollercoaster to get here!
I've been performing music since the age of six when I took up the piano, but was powerless to stop myself taking up the saxophone at age fourteen upon discovering funk music. The sax would remain a mainstay of my free time throughout the decade to follow.
I quickly found joy expressing myself on the instrument. During this time I fronted a jazz sextet and played with a couple of district big bands that helped me to start finding my unique voice. Playing a set at the Royal Albert Hall was a serious highlight!
Going to university changed me a lot, as it does most people, but the biggest and and best change was definitely choosing to focus solely on saxophones! The piano now took a backseat, and if I'm speaking honestly, so did my maths degree… Though I did study just enough to achieve a 1st, my mind and body were very definitely focused on music. Don’t tell the uni, please.
I played in and managed the university big band, integrated myself into the Bath music scene, and moreover took some very influential sax lessons that set me on the path to my future career. I was also extremely privileged to meet and receive coaching from the late ‘Pee Wee’ Ellis, arguably one of the greatest saxophonists of his generation.
I moved to Bristol in late 2019, and absolutely love it here to this day. Musically speaking, I was just getting started here when a pandemic arrived and cancelled all the gigs! I saw nothing better to do than practise. A lot…
In a city like Bristol, the work pays off quickly. Since the reemergence of society I’ve had the privilege of working with an enormous variety of bands, both local and touring, in addition to playing a few different festivals and regularly making my mark on the incredible improvised music scene.
I’ve been performing full-time at weddings, parties, club nights, corporate events, hen parties (you name it, really) since 2021. I wouldn’t trade this profession for the world! It’s simply a privilege to see peoples’ faces light up when I perform for them.
With making sure I’m always on top of correspondence and preparation for clients, this is truly a full-time job. I do thankfully manage to play other things too though! I’m currently involved with:
nu-jazz trio “Fantastic Stranger”. Equal parts pensive and ferocious! @fantasticstrangermusic
“30 Circles” (https://linktr.ee/30circles) - meditative, story-telling music for solo woodwinds and audio effects.
Let’s keep in touch?
Here are some links:
© 2022 Dave Colebourn Saxes
