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Dave Samuels

About this Artist

Vibraphownist DAVE SAMUELS studied with Gary Burton and taught percussion and improvisation at Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to New York in 1974. He toured and recorded with Gerry Mulligan from 1974 to 1977. A partnership with fellow vibraphonist David Friedman followed, as well as collaborations with Michael Di Pasqua, Hubert Laws, Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Anthony Davis, and Bobby McFerrin.

Samuels achieved renown through his association with the fusion group Spyro Gyra, which he joined in the 1970s and with which he continues to perform as a guest artist. In the 1990s, Latin-rooted styles increasingly caught his ear, leading to the founding in 1995 of the Caribbean Jazz Project with saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera and pans player Andy Narell. Recent CJP releases are 2000’s New Horizons and 2001’s Paraiso, both on the Concord Picante label. The Gathering (2002) represents the newest twist on the CJP sound, with Samuels’ vibraphone and marimba and co-leader Dave Valentin’s flute out front.