Your classmates- David Anderson

I realize we aren’t dragging in a ton of traffic to our humble home on the web- so I thought I’d start writing things about you (well- posting things you send me that someone else has written about you) when I see them.

I’ve known David Anderson since third grade at Fairfax. There were three David’s in Mrs. Rosenbaum’s class (and, no, I still don’t know if it’s true she was once in Playboy- but, I thought she could have been). To keep us straight, I was David, Anderson was Dave and the last of us- was just “Pokorny”

To this day- I prefer David- and Anderson goes by Dave. He’s also thumping his bass like a superstar in New Orleans- check it out:

David Anderson | Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Dave Anderson is a professional double bassist, joined the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans in September of 1996 after winning their Principal Bass audition.

Prior to that appointment, he performed and recorded regularly with the Louisville Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, among others. Since 1994, he has served as Principal Bassist in the Britt Festival Orchestra in Oregon.

He has performed extensively with many diverse ensembles including, the Aspen Festival, Chautauqua (NY) Festival, Colorado Philharmonic (NRO), Colorado Music Festival, the LaSalle Quartet, and as a soloist with Richard Stoltzman, Gene Bertoncini, Nigel Kennedy, Bobby McFerrin, Doc Severinsen and many others. He has served as Bass Instructor for the Music School at Loyola University and also on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Bassists (ISB) as bassist/composer.

Mr. Anderson began his pursuits in composition in 1984, recognizing that the solo repertoire for his instrument was limited. The influence of Frank Proto, one of his finest teachers, also led him to turn to involved composition. Since then, his published work has expanded to other solo instruments, as well as for chamber orchestras and small ensembles. He has published bass duets and quartets, including a bass quartet that was performed to acclaim at the Chamber Music Festival at Indiana University in 1993. Anderson won first prize in the 1995 Allen Ostrander International Trombone Composition Competition, sponsored by Ithaca college, for Elegy for Van, a work for solo bass trombone and brass choir, which he composed as a tribute to the late Lewis Van Haney, former trombonist with the New York Philharmonic. Several years ago, Anderson completed a concerto for Bass Trombone, commissioned by his father, Edwin Anderson, former bass trombonist with the Cleveland Orchestra. His Concerto for Double Bass, Strings & Harp, commissioned by Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Hal Robinson was premiered at the ISB Convention in June of 1997 and performed on the 1997-98 subscription series of the Philadelphia Orchestra season, Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting. His current work includes a second symphony, as well as several commissions.

Also a prolific electric bassist, Anderson loves playing with pedal steel guitarist, David Easley. The group known as the Anderson/Easley Project perform original music of many genres including free jazz, funk, bop, minimalist and many wonderfully unique approaches to dynamics and expression. Anderson also plays with Algorhythm Method, and SOFA KING BIG SOUL, bands that fuse many different styles including hard rock, funk, blues, jazz, and New Orleans R & B.

Anderson has jammed with The Radiators, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Roy Pope, Darryl Brown, and many other great New Orleans musicians including a killer performance with guitarist Brian Stoltz of the Funky Meters as a main highlight of the French Quarter Festival 2002.

In 1984-85, Anderson played for and took lessons with the legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius in New York, who firmly encouraged the idea of being able to cross over between classical and jazz.

Here is some of what the Press has said in Anderson’s past:
Review of Anderson’s Quintet for Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Viola & Bass, Louisville Courier Journal music critic Andrew Adler wrote:
“Anderson’s new work is splendidly fresh and provocative, ingenious in how it distributes material … the jazzy syncopations and ethnic flavorings reflect a diverse, expertly distilled inspiration. Thoroughly absorbed by yesterday’s performance, the piece offered sustained pleasure.”

Reviews of Anderson’s Bass Concerto:
Houston Chronicle music critic Charles Ward :
“ … thoroughly appealing … his rich scoring of the orchestra and expansive solo melodies came from a composer exuberantly in love with music.”
Lesley Valdes, Philadelphia Inquirer:
“ … a melodious work, whose moods cohere… the thoughtful, the nostalgic, the provocative. Ideas are fertile and cohesive.”
Thomas May, Washington Post:
“Anderson shows a gift for fashioning readily accessible music from unusual combinations of timbres.”

Recent Jazz Review:
Jazzin’
By Martin Z. Kasdan Jr
The Anderson/Easley Project at the Jazz Factory
This intriguing group consists of former Louisville Orchestra bassist Dave Anderson (now Principal Bass with the LPO in New Orleans) and pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley, with drumming by Steve Tidwell. While steel guitar is not usually associated with jazz, Easley demonstrated both proficiency and inventiveness in a program of mostly original material. Anderson’s arco intro to the opening number of the second set (sorry, I didn’t hear a title announced) led into a spacey pedal steel segment reminiscent at times of Jerry Garcia’s experimental playing on the instrument on his first, self-titled solo album. Anderson also opened the second piece, “Blues for Frank” with an arco introduction, before switching to pizzicato during the ensemble playing; Jaco Pastorius’ “Teen Town” was cleverly woven onto this song as well. Other highlights included “12-Tone Hip Bop,” dedicated to Charlie Parker and Arnold Schoenberg. Overall, this was a delightful evening of provocative and highly
enjoyable music!

And, yeah, I jammed with that dude- back in Junior High school.