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Dear AAJ,
Thank you for this tribute to Dave. He deserves all this and a lot more. I only wish we could have been a little luckier to have him around much longer than this. I am a very big music fan in general but recently became an even bigger fan of jazz specifically and I am talking about all the styles existing.
I have seen a large number of musicians some more versatile then the others, but Dave seemed to have had a switch that could in a moment's notice change style of playing and complementing the group and the project at hand. It always amazed me how at ease he was with both electric bass in mostly fusion settings and just the same in a more straight forward or mellow styles on a stand up.
I once saw him at the Baked Potatoe, if I am not mistaken, with the Brandon Fields group. After the first set, I approached him and congradulated him on the set, but I also mentioned how fine I thought he was on stand up back when I saw him for the first time. To me it felt like it was the first time he was hearing this and very humbly thanked me. He had a huge amount of talent and equal amount of soul and humility. We are really the ones who should be thanking him for sharing his music with us.
I am sure Miles, Coltrane, Buddy and the rest of our good friends are waiting to book him in that great club in jazz heaven and arguing on who gets him first!
Bye Dave until later. Anyone who knows anything about jazz is going to miss you. -
Tony MacLaren wrote on July 02, 2008 report
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Carpenter.
He was a fine man and an awe inspiring musician.
I feel blessed to have played with him in the past.
The first time we met was on my Big Bang session in a little studio in Glendale.
We were recording a power trio with Kirk Covington on drums.
They had just finished an Alan Holdsworth CD and were fired up and ready to go.
I gave them my chicken scratch charts and Dave grabbed a pen and made sense of it all.
When we fired up the 2 inch tape machine (yes tape), it was like magic.
I had a grin from ear to ear.
It was a heat wave and the air conditioning went out and I looked at Kirk and he was dripping wet from the heat but we pressed on. What troopers.
Dave made every note count and he made my music sound so good.
After the session, Dave regaled us with road stories from Buddy Rich etc.
We played a live July 4th. gig at Balboa park a few years back and Dave brought Toss Panos in to play drums.
He did a beautiful bass solo during the set.
We did a music mind reading bit where the audience choose a song and we played it telepathically.
I am glad to have the memory on video.
He was a one of a kind and I will miss him.
Dave my friend..go forth into the source and shine on...
Tony MacLaren -
Cathy Rocco wrote on July 02, 2008 report
Dave Carpenter performed on my latest CD. It was the 1st time we had met and I was thrilled to experience his virtuosity and charm. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of his world, even for a brief moment.
May he rest in peace
Cathy Rocco -
Gregg Bissonette wrote on July 03, 2008 report
Hi...My name is Gregg Bissonette and I was a very good friend of Dave's for over 20 years..
We played lots of gigs and recording sessions together, and we always had a great time hanging out.
This past May 28th, we played a big band session together at Capitol Studios in Hollywood for a new Wayne Brady cd that Jerry Hey was producing.
As usual, Dave played amazing with the coolest groove and feel.
But that day he asked me if I could get backstage passes for a dear friend of his back in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Larry Keller a great Dayton drummer that was one of Dave's best friends had already bought Ringo Starr and the All Starr Band tickets for a Dayton show I am doing with the band on July 8th. Dave asked if I could get his dear friend Larry and 2 guests to come backstage. Dave was always caring, loving and looking out for his friends and trying to hook musicians up!!
Larry and I will get to meet because of Dave and have a great talk about Dave next week as we remember one of the great players and people we have ever known. -
Frank Macchia wrote on July 04, 2008 reportI was incredibly lucky enough to have Dave play on two of my CDs. I was talking to Billy Childs who was going to play piano on the session and I told him I had Vinnie Coliauta on drums and asked him who he thought I should have play bass. Without a hesitation he said Dave Carpenter, and I was so glad that I had him playing my music. He was so musical, and had the greatest attitude about making the music sound right. I had a difficult bass line on on song that he had to play non-stop for over five minutes and he never complained about it, even with doing multiple takes. I would see him frequently at local jazz clubs and he was always so friendly. I am so sad by his passing, but feel so lucky to have known him. God bless you, Dave.
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Matt Gregory wrote on July 06, 2008 report
Dave performed only one time at the Rosalie & Alva performance Gallery. It was a video shoot for a weekly TV program that Tim Pinch is working on with Mike Garson on piano MC,Ralph Humphries, Jim Walker (Free Flight). I'm sure there will be many great bass players on this project, however it will always be known that Dave Carpenter was the Man on the pilot shoot, and man did he smoke on that video!!!
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Pamela Rivera wrote on July 07, 2008 report
Dave Carpenter was a fantastic musician from a Fan's prospective... I loved his style and will surely miss hearing his vibes.
Rest In Peace. -
Kevin Kalal wrote on July 10, 2008 report
It's absolutely terrible to learn of Dave's death. Interesting coincidence that I was listening to a Buddy Rich show from 1984 on the day he died. He was on the recording. Playing with Buddy in Berlin, Germany. I listened to a fantastic bass solo by Dave on "All Blues" Yet I had no idea the man I was listening to was dying at the same time. Such a shame to see such talent taken from us. Rest in peace Mr. Carpenter.
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George Lovio wrote on July 10, 2008 report
So sad to here about Dave,what a great player I did several gigs with him in a trio setting up and down the California coast,we would sometimes play one song for the whole set, then look up at each other and just laugh, he will be missed by all that were lucky to have known, or played with him.
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Fred Stone, Jr. wrote on July 22, 2008 report
Back in 1983 I believe it was I got this phone call while living in Rochester NY. This guy on the line says "Hi my name is Dave Carpenter and I'm the bassist with Buddy Rich's Band". Well it was and always have been a real dream of playing with the greatest drummer in the world ever since I was 16 years old. I didn't say anything and just listened. Dave said he got my number from the pianist in the Band and would I like to fill in for him while he attends a wedding, I said sure. I think I did a couple of weeks with Buddy's Band and then went home. A few months later he had asked me to fill in again and I said sure leaving some gigs behind here in Rochester, NY for the experience to play with Buddy. Then about six months later he called again and asked me if I'd be interested in taking the chair over with Buddy's Band and so I did wich lead to a tour of about 9 months all together. All of the times I subed for Dave he was nice enough to let me use his own equiptment. All I had to do is bring my bass, an old electric Fender Precision that Jaco later used in 1985. It's always sad to hear of the news of a passing musician but especilally a good one and one so young also. Dave's chops took off like a jet after he left Woody's band and went to L A. He'll be missed by many. I hope I get half the rememberences that he has gotten when my time comes. Good bye Dave and thanks so much for the gigs with Buddy and the life long opportunity and dream to play with The Buddy Rich Band. I still have the T-shirt and a picture of "The Bus". I owe you a gig my Friend. Goodbye.
Sincerely,
Fred J Stone Jr -
Matthew W . Mouton wrote on July 25, 2008 report
i saw carp live at rocco in hollywood twice . amazing is all i can say . my dads a bass player and igrew up around bass to see that show with my father was the ticket . carp made my dads eyes light up like never before . - rest well carp you will be missed . you have been a conversation piece for my father and i since those shows . you still will be for us
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Takeshi Yamazaki wrote on August 16, 2008 report
Too sad! I saw him first when he played with Larry Carlton in Japan. At that moment he was a little fat than recent days. After that I enjoyed his plays in many opportunities including Japanese jazz player Eiji Kitamura.
When I found him in the airplane from LA to Narita in 2002, I tried to say "Hello" to him and he replied in very friendly manner and I was really pleased. He said that he was coming to Japan for the trip of Lee Ritenour and introduced me to Alan Pasqua, his colleague of the trip.
We enjoyed some conversation and I promised to visit him in the next week after the performance with Lee Ritenour.
On the next Monday, when I visited him, he came to me again also in very friendly manner and we enjoyed meeting again.
I asked him to introduce his impressive work (CD) with Alan and he introduced me "Ballads".
Now this CD is the one of my treasures.
When I left there, he seemed a little sad and said "Sayonara".(you might know it means good-by in Japanese)
I could not forget his face at that moment....
I really hope that he is still enjoying bass playing in the other world.
Thank you, Dave.
Takeshi -
Michael J jochum wrote on August 24, 2008 report
my name is michael jochum and i had the great privalige of playing with and knowing Dave Carpenter. Dave was a man of unquestionable supreme musicianship, but he was also the most nurturing supportive musical conspirators i ever had the pleasure of working with. bass players and drummers have this interesting and never ending dynamic of musical "push, pull"...when a connection is made between bass player and drummer it turns into a lasting relationship that endures through the hills and valleys of making a living in what can sometime be a frustrating business.from jingles to motion picture scores, that connection with Dave was always there and when i was making the difficult decision to move to colorado some 6 years ago he was always supportive and told me to follow my heart. we haven't spoken in the last six years, and i was so shocked to hear he had passed away...thank you Dave for your wonderful presence in the world. you will be missed so much.
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Tanner Lee wrote on April 03, 2009 report
Dave, actually, was my uncle. I live in Texas, so I did not know Dave much, but he was planning on coming to see me and help me on the guitar. I searched him to find out how much of a success he was and I really appreciate this article and the positiveness everyone has shown towards him. R.I.P.
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Donniel Aponte wrote on January 25, 2010 report
First and foremost my humblest apology for this tardy reply, but I have been out of the scene forever. I met Davey when he first came to New York in the 80's. He was living around the corner from me in Astoria, Queens in a tiny little joint and the RR train (the "L") was right outside his window. He looked like a Rocker when we met long hair and all met him on the subway he had his Bass I had my sticks, it was Love at first site. He told me he was playing with Buddy I said yea right, I was studying on 48th street with Buddys' publisher and long time friend Henry Adler. I never missed another Buddy show in N.Y.C. We would go across the street to watch Dick Weller play in this Oldmans Tavern that nobody ever played in but if Dick
could'nt find a room to play in he would he would create one "Monster Drummer", We would see Dick playing in Times Square long before street Drummers became popular. Davey was a truly so full of Love for not only Music and his instrument but of people, Brilliant!! Intelligent!! The Total Package and some!! He has left us with so much in such a brief time I am truly honored to call him my friend and inspiration. Love You my Brother, hope to see you not too soon. I got work to do to catch up with you!! -
Matthew Widder wrote on March 23, 2010 report
I learned of Dave Carpenter's death today, a few years after the fact.
I studied with Dave for two years when he lived in West Carrollton, Ohio, back in the seventies before he moved to NYC. In fact, I grew up 10 miles away from NYC and now I live in his home town.
Dave played in a band called The North Berlin Sundays Club at the time, a collaboration of young local jazz artists- we were in our early twenties- who played a jazz club called Gilly's in downtown Dayton every Sunday. I took lessons from him every week, and went out to the club to see him perform every time I had a chance. I recall feeling elated by Dave's expressions, and encouraged him with the truism that a big band would eventually pick him up and, of course, it happened. I recall how happy I was for him when Buddy Rich caught up with his talent. I also felt a sense of loss because I was out a top-notch teacher, and Dayton lost its best local bass player.
At the time Dave played a Fender Jazz bass and attacked music with such unique technique many musicians thought he used effects, but he was a real clean player- a little EQ was all he ever needed to make his bass sing with smooth timber that came from his soul and flowed through his talented fingers. What I remember most was his ability to comprehend complex fillers, and to readily teach me how to learn the piece, which was not an easy thing to do. I always thought Dave was born to play the bass no less so than Hendrix was suited for the guitar.
Dave taught me how to play the bass while I attended college, and I am forever grateful. I caught up with him once in a blue moon when he was on tour through Ohio. I was never as talented as Dave, but I still play as a hobbyist even today. I frequently think of how fortunate I was to study and learn from one of the greats, an inspiration I will never forget.
Miss ya, Dave.
Matt Widder
