Dave Edwards

Dave Edwards is a New York–area musical director and multi-instrumentalist who appears to move effortlessly between jazz, rock, classical, and worship music. Decades of ensemble experience and deep study have made him a rare performer and collaborator on upright and electric bass, drums, piano, acoustic guitar, and voice - especially as a worship leader.

He has performed or recorded with Gloria Gaynor, KANSAS, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, The Ed Palermo (Frank Zappa) Big Band, John Patitucci, Oz Noy, Mike Stern, and Randy Brecker, with appearances at Lincoln Center, Birdland, CBGB’s, the White House, and the United Nations.

Trained from an early age at the American Boychoir School, Dave was later mentored by conductors John Kuzma and Mark Laycock. Classical training formed him as a young musician, but he couldn’t escape the pull of jazz and classic and progressive rock, especially on drums and bass. He eventually joined the Princeton High Studio Band, performing Whiplash on bass and drums, and earning awards for Outstanding Bassist and Drummer at Berklee’s national jazz competition with the first-place Studio Band - the same band and song that inspired the film Whiplash.

He went on to study piano performance and conducting at Indiana University, performing with the Trenton Symphony and Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, before turning to jazz studies inspired by his newfound love for small group ensemble playing. Dave continued to engage in classical performance as pianist and assistant to conductor Murry Colosimo of the Wayne Chamber Orchestra in Wayne, NJ. 

Drawn by faith in his twenties, Dave began what has become a twenty-five-year career as a Worship & Arts Director, mentoring over 120 musicians and technical artists known for their musical excellence, camaraderie, and authenticity.

Based in the NYC metro area and available for touring, studio work, and creative collaboration.

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