Growing up in the suburbs of NYC, David was constantly surrounded by music. “My earliest musical memories are of my older cousin playing drums in his basement for hours. There was just something about being surrounded by sound—a raw, primal energy that instantly got me hooked.” Adding to the fire was David’s musically obsessed older brother, who would blast Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd from his boom box. In addition to these rock influences, David was also discovering jazz. The objects of his admiration included Count Basie, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, John Bonham, and Neil Peart. The combination of these influences helped shape David as a drummer, which he became at an early age, when he inherited his cousin’s drums.

David was fortunate to start his formal drum training at the Long Island Drum Center with ddrum and Zildjian clinician Dave Stark. Continuing the journey, David pursued both music and business at University at Albany, where he studied with percussionist Richard Albagli and jazz drummer Dave Calarco.

After college, David relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. One of the first musicians he met was Dan Marshall, who had recently opened the doors to his studio in Little Five Points. David began laying down drum tracks at the studio and eventually garnered the attention of various Atlanta-based artists and singer-songwriters. In addition to recoding and performing, David taught privately and continued his own private studies with Georgia State Jazz Professor Woody Williams and master drummer Jeff Sipe.

In 2001, David moved to New York City to study at The Collective School of Music. At The Collective, David studied with Kim Plainfield, Jim Chapin, Matt Walker, Vince Cherico, Michael Lauren, and Robbie Ameen.

Some of the diverse artists David has performed with include Outside Pedestrian, PJ Loughran, Ron Kobayashi, Max Bennett, Mambo NYC, Llew Matthews (Nancy Wilson), Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, and Changing Modes. David’s recording credits as a drummer, arranger, and producer include nationally distributed records and soundtracks including releases by Capital and Universal Records. He has toured nationally and internationally including performances at the House of Blues (Las Vegas), Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Nokia Theater (NYC), Variety Playhouse (Atlanta), North by Northeast (Toronto), and the Orpheum Theater (Boston).

Discography

Outside Pedestrian Time Zones
(Eclectichord Records)
Produced by Outside Pedestrian
Drums, Percussion, Production

Outside Pedestrian Reclaimed
(Eclectichord Records)
Produced by Outside Pedestrian
Drums, Percussion, Production

Changing Modes In Flight
(Plague of Twins)
Produced by Changing Modes
Drums, Percussion, Trumpet, Arrangements, Co-Producer

Changing Modes The Paradox of Traveling Light
(Plague of Twins)
Produced by Changing Modes
Composer

Changing Modes Here
(Plague of Twins)
Produced by Changing Modes
Drums, Percussion, Trumpet, Arrangements, Co-Producer

Changing Modes Down and Out in Shangri-la
(Plague of Twins)
Produced by Changing Modes
Drums, Trumpet, Arrangements, Co-Producer

PJ Loughran Spinning On
(Independent)
Produced by PJ Loughran and Stephen Shirk
Drums

PJ Loughran Sunrise Run
(Independent)
Produced by PJ Loughran
Drums, Percussion

Changing Modes Aeroplane
(Plague of Twins)
Produced by Yuzuru Sadashige and Wendy Griffiths
Drums, Percussion

Martin Dory Vanishing Act
(Insulate Industries)
Produced by Benjamin Smith
Drums, Percussion

Nevaris Nevaris
(Uncommun records)
Produced by Nevaris
Drums

PJ Loughran Grenadine
(Independent)
Produced by PJ Loughran and Stephen Shirk
Drums, Percussion

PJ Loughran Selections from the Shoebox
(Independent)
Produced by PJ Loughran
Drums, Djembe

Ben Dunlap Take My Chances
(CBK Entertainment)
Produced by Ben Dunlap and JL Floyd
Drums

Little Embers Divided
(Independent)
Produced by Little Embers
Drums, Percussion

Dave Edwards Now What?
(Independent)
Produced by Dave Edwards
Drums

Bangalore Torpedoes Clear the Floor
(Rarotonga Records)
Produced by John Goese
Drums