David Newton (pianist)

David Newton
Born (1958-02-02) 2 February 1958 (age 66)
Glasgow, Scotland
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, educator
InstrumentPiano
LabelsLinn, Candid
Websitedavidnewtonjazzpiano.com

David Newton (born 2 February 1958) is a Scottish jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator.

Early life

Newton was born in Glasgow on 2 February 1958.[1] He "played clarinet, bassoon and piano before specializing on piano at the Leeds School of Music".[1]

Later life and career

Newton had a trio in Bradford in 1978 and worked in a theatre in Scarborough.[1] He returned to Scotland in the early 1980s.[1] He "established a considerable reputation as an accompanist to visiting American musicians before he launched his own solo career".[2] In 1986, he made his recording debut, with Buddy DeFranco.[1] He moved to London the following year, "worked with Alan Barnes, then toured with Martin Taylor's Quartet (including [a] trip to India) from 1989 to 1991."[1] He was vocalist Carol Kidd's musical director in the 1990s.[1][2] He also accompanied several other singers.[1]

Newton recorded three albums as a leader for Linn Records in the early 1990s: the trio records Eyewitness and Victim of Circumstance, and the solo piano Return Journey.[2] He then moved to Candid Records and recorded another trio album, In Good Company, for them in 1994.[2] He had a solo piano tour the following year and toured with Bud Shank.[1] In addition to leading his own bands of various sizes, he has also done a lot of freelance playing.[1] In the early to mid-2000s, he also recorded for Bright New Day, including one album with an orchestra.[3]

Newton became a fellow of Leeds College of Music in 2003, where he is a principal lecturer in jazz piano.[4]

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1990 Eyewitness Linn Trio, with Dave Green (bass), Allan Ganley (drums)
1990 Victim of Circumstance Linn Trio; most tracks with Alec Dankworth (bass), Clark Tracey (drums); one track with Dave Green (bass), Allan Ganley (drums)
1992 Return Journey Linn Solo piano
1994 In Good Company Candid Trio, with Dave Green (bass), Allan Ganley (drums)
1995 Twelfth of the Twelfth Candid Solo piano
1996 DNA Candid With Iain Dixon (tenor sax), Matt Miles (bass), Steve Brown (drums)
1996 Meets Brian Lemon to Play Hoagy Carmichael Zephyr Duo, with Brian Lemon (piano)
2000? Halfway to Dawn Concord Jazz Trio, with Matt Miles (bass), Steve Brown (drums)
2002? Bootleg Eric ASC
2003 Pacific Heights Bright New Day Trio, with Dave Chamberlain (bass), Colin Oxley (guitar)
2004 Inspired Bright New Day Trio, with Matt Miles (bass), Steve Brown (drums)
2006 Portrait of a Woman Bright New Day With Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Steve Brown (drums), orchestra
2011? Inside Out Woodville
2013? Out of This World Trio, with Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Colin Oxley (guitar)

As sideman

With Stacey Kent

With Ray Gelato and Claire Martin

  • 2016: We've Got a World That Swings (Linn)

Sources:[2][3][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Chilton, John (2004). Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.). Continuum. p. 261.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 982. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.
  3. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 1077–1078. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. ^ "David Newton". Leeds College of Music. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  5. ^ "David Newton | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 December 2016.