Dave Pike

David Samuel Pike (born March 23, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan) is a jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He appears on many Herbie Mann albums as well as those by Bill Evans, Nick Brignola, Paul Bley and Kenny Clarke. He has also recorded extensively as leader, including a number of albums on MPS Records.

Biography

He learned drums at the age of eight and is self-taught on vibes. Pike made his recording debut with the Paul Bley Quartet in 1958. He began putting an amplifier on his vibes when working with flautist Herbie Mann in the early 1960s. ^[1] By the late 1960s, Pike's music became more exploratory, contributing a unique voice and new contexts that pushed the envelope in times remembered for their exploratory nature. Doors of Perception, released in 1970 for the Atlantic Records subsidiary Vortex Records and produced by former boss Herbie Mann, explored ballads, modal territory, musique concrète, with free and lyrical improvisation, and included musicians like alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, bassist Chuck Israels and pianist Don Friedman.

Pike's move to Europe and tenure at MPS Records records produced some of the most original jazz of the period. With the collaboration of Volker Kriegel (guitar), J. A. Rettenbacher (acoustic and electric bass), and Peter Baumeister (drums), he formed the Dave Pike Set. The group recorded six records from 1969-1972 that ran the gamut from funky grooves to free, textural territory. The group, though short-lived, created a unique identity and textural palette. Kriegel's compositional and instrumental (playing acoustic, classical, and electric guitar as well as sitar) contributions to the group helped set the Dave Pike Set's sound apart, organically incorporating influences from jazz, soul jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde music, and World music.

Pike's not only talent in jazz, but his talent in pop music. Once released his first album in 1970, pike trying to make a pop album. Entitled "Eclipse", but because he was already proficient in the field of jazz, he decide to canceled the pop album. One of the songs he had created on the Journey of Life.

Discography

As leader

• 1958: Solemn Meditation (The Paul Bley Quartet Featuring Dave Pike, Vibes) (GNP Crescendo)
• 1961: It's Time for Dave Pike (Riverside Records)
• 1961: Pike's Peak (Portrait)
• 1962: Bossa Nova Carnival (New Jazz)
• 1962: Limbo Carnival (New Jazz)
• 1964: Manhattan Latin (Decca)
• 1966: Jazz for the Jet Set (Atlantic)
• 1969: Noisy Silence - Gentle Noise (MPS)
• 1969: Four Reasons (MPS)
• 1969: Live at the Philharmonie (MPS)
• 1970: Doors of Perception (Vortex Records)
• 1970: Infra Red (MPS)
• 1971: Album (MPS)
• 1972: Salamão (MPS)
• 1973: Masterpieces (MPS) (compilation)
• 1977: On a Gentle Note (Muse Records)
• 1986: Pike's Groove (Criss Cross Jazz)
• 1998: Bop Head (Ubiquity Records)
• 2000: Peligroso (Cubop Records)

As sideman

With Herbie Mann

• Today! (1966)

With Bill Evans

• Piano Player (1962)

References

External links

• BBC Radio 2
• Dave Pike fan site