Dave Samuels

Biography

David Alan Samuels (October 9, 1948 – April 22, 2019) was an American vibraphone 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.

Biography

Samuels was born in Waukegan, Illinois, United States. 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 vibes/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 taught at Berklee and at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Samuels died on April 22, 2019, due to an undisclosed long-term illness.

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
1995 We Live Here, Pat Metheny Group
1994 World Tour, Jason Miles
1997 Playin' Hooky, Bob James
1997 Imaginary Day, Pat Metheny Group
1999 A Map of the World, Pat Metheny
2002 Speaking of Now, Pat Metheny Group
2005 The Way Up, Pat Metheny Group
2006 Balance, Yotam Rosenbaum