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Dave Schumacher

As a freelance Baritone Saxophonist, Chicago native Dave Schumacher has been active on the New York scene for more than the 30 years. As member of Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra from 1983 to 1987 he toured the Americas and Europe. He again toured with Hamp in 1988 and 1989. A highlight in Dave’s career was traveling with the Art Blakey Big Band to Japan in 1987 to perform at the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival.

Dave was an original member of Harry Connick, Jr.’s Orchestra from its beginnings in 1990 until 2009. He has thrilled audiences touring with Harry in North America, Europe, Asia (Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and South Korea) and Australia. His baritone sax can be heard on each of these Harry Connick, Jr., Columbia recordings: Oh My NOLA, Chanson du Vieux Carré, Only You, When My Heart Finds Christmas, Come By Me, Blue Light Red Light, Songs I Heard, Thou Shalt Not, What A Night and others.

As a freelance artist Dave was a touring member of the T.S. Monk On Monk Ensemble from 1999 to 2000 touring the U.S. and Europe, as well as touring Europe with the Tom Harrell Octet in 2000. Dave has also done freelance work with Nicholas Payton’s Louis Armstrong Tribute Big Band, Joe Lovano’s 52nd Street Themes Nonet, the groups of Jack McDuff, Eddie Gladden, Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Big Band, Tom Harrell Big Band, Lin Halliday and many others.

As a leader and composer/arranger, Dave has recorded 3 CD’s – Every Corner and from Another Life on the Amosaya Music label and Endangered Species on Summit Records. Dave has recorded as a sideman with Lionel Hampton, Harry Connick, Jr., Tom Harrell, Scott Whitfield, Jason Lindner, Mel Torme, Ben Wolfe and salsero Billy Carrion among others.

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34
Album Review

Dave Schumacher & Cubeye: Smoke in the Sky

Read "Smoke in the Sky" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Chicago-bred, New York-based baritone saxophonist Dave Schumacher leans heavily toward Latin melodies and rhythms on Smoke in the Sky, his recording of an able septet he has dubbed Cubeye. Contemporary jazz lies at the core of Schumacher's cross- cultural endeavor, one that his like-minded teammates take readily to heart while lending their insight and expertise to the largely warm and engaging enterprise. While Schumacher's burly baritone, reminiscent of Pepper Adams, Ronnie Cuber, Nick Brignola, Gary Smulyan, Cecil ...

2
Album Review

Scott Whitfield & Friends: A Bi-Coastal Christmas

Read "A Bi-Coastal Christmas" reviewed by Jack Bowers


If trombonist Scott Whitfield's A Bi-Coastal Christmas cannot quicken your inner holiday spirit, that will not be for lack of trying. Whitfield uses every ribbon in the packet and every tool in the shed to help make the season bright, from big band to quintet, from duo to solo (Whitfield's trombone all by itself). Two of the selections were recorded in 2004, four others in 2005, whereas Whitfield's brace of solo tracks was taped in 2020 as he cast off ...

198
Album Review

Dave Schumacher: Endangered Species

Read "Endangered Species" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Back in the beginning there was Gerry Mulligan; or maybe it was Pepper Adams. We're talking baritone saxophone here, of course, especially as a lead instrument. It's still not a horn you often hear out front, regrettably. But with his Summit Records debut, Endangered Species, Dave Schumacher does his part to remedy the situation.Schmacher, a veteran of more than two decades on the New York jazz scene, has explored the deep, dark end of the baritone's sound, including ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Smoke in the Sky

Cellar Music Group
2025

buy

A Bi-Coastal Christmas

Self Produced
2020

buy

Endangered Species

Summit Records
2006

buy

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