Dave Dickey is a trombonist, educator, and bandleader originally from Des Moines, Iowa. After high school, he attended the University of North Texas and received a Bachelors in Jazz Studies. While at North Texas, he recorded two CDs with the famed One O’ Clock Lab Band directed by Neil Slater and one CD with the Zebras under the leadership of Dan Hearle. Dave then moved to Miami and lived there for six years as a performing / touring musician and also a jazz radio DJ for WDNA-Miami. While living in Miami, he received his Masters in Jazz Performance from Florida International University. Next, Dave moved to Urbana, Illinois to work on his DMA in Jazz Performance. While he was there he was teaching music classes and jazz ensembles at The University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Richland College in Decatur. Dave was also a busy freelance musician in the Chicago and Indianapolis area for jazz, salsa, studio recordings, club date bands, and classical performances. Dave currently lives in Saint Louis, MO teaching jazz trombone and improvisation classes at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, low brass professor at Saint Charles Community College, performing in the St. Louis area, has his own large private low brass and jazz improv studio, assisting with the Lindbergh Jazz Ensemble, writing music, and contracting the 6 piece horn section for the popular Austin, TX touring rock band called Spoon. For the 2010-2011 school season Dave taught classes and ensembles at Lindbergh High School, which included Lindbergh Jazz Ensemble and combo, 3 music technology classes, and concert band. He also recently became president-ellect for Missouri Association of Jazz Education (MOAJE) and board member for the St Louis Low Brass Collective (STLLBC).
Dave Dickey has performed with jazz artist such as Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Tito Puente, Nestor Torres, David Sanborn, Louie Bellson, Dave Liebman, John Fedchock, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Byron Stripling, Vincent DiMartino, Kevin Mahogany, Art Seres, Vic Damone, Melton Mustafa Orchestra, Dennis Noday Orchestra, Four Freshman, Bob Hoose Orchestra, Lee Harris Orchestra, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Peterson Jazz Colection Orchestra, and many others.
Dave has also worked Motown and R&B artists such as the Temptations, Roberta Flack, Denise Williams, O'Jays, and the Manhattans.
While living in Miami, Dave Dickey has performed, toured, and recorded with many Latin / salsa artists, such as Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Israel López "Cachao", Rey Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, Tito Nueves, Luis Enrique, Huey Dunbar (DLG), Roberto Torres, Hansel y Raul, Tropicana All-Stars, Tito Puente Jr., Los Doctores del Ritmo, Marco Antonio Muniz, and others. During that time, Dave was an musician and actor for 2 DVDs: Arturo Sandoval’s HBO movie “For Love or for Country” and perfored and soloed in a documentary DVD/CD on Cuban music called "La Cuba Mia" backing up Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Miliki, and other Cuban artists. Other artist on the DVD include Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Albita, Donato, and others.
While living in Illinois, Dave was the leader of the Dave Dickey Big Band (still active), a 18 piece jazz big band featuring members of the University of Illinois Jazz Faculty (Jim Pugh, Chip McNeil, Chip Stephens, Tito Carrillo, Dana Hall, Larry Gray) and the top jazz musicians in east and central Illinois. Leader of the C-U Jazz Crusaders, a tribute band to the original The Jazz Crusaders / The Crusaders. Leader of Weapons of Mass DisFunktion, an 8 piece funk band. Dave is also co-leader of the Tom Garling and Dave Dickey Quintet (J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding tribute band) and the Jeff Helgesen / Dave Dickey Quintet.
Dave is the creator and programmer of a popular trombone internet radio show called Groove Bone. www.groovebone.org This is a radio show featuring the trombone on small group and big band jazz, Latin jazz, and funk recordings. The show also features interviews with well-known jazz trombonists and autographed CD contests. Dave was also a jazz DJ at WDNA - Miami for 5 years and at WEFT - Champaign for 4 years.
