BIOGRAPHY
Co-founder of Celtic progressive/folk/rock/band IONA, with whom he toured the world and released 13 critically acclaimed albums, Dave’s multi-faceted career as a solo artist, keyboardist, guitarist, bouzouki player, composer, improviser, producer, arranger and sound mixer has led him into many musical genres and work with numerous artists including Strawbs, Lifesigns, Troy Donockley, Jack Bruce, Buddy Guy, Nick Beggs, Gloria Gaynor, Moya Brennan, Colin Blunstone, Downes Braide Association, Robert Fripp, Phil Keaggy, Paul Jones, The Norman Beaker Band, Damian Wilson, Nick Fletcher, ‘Snake’ Davis, Adrian Snell, PP Arnold, Mollie Marriott, Dave Kerzner and many others.
Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Best Jazz soloist award (piano) and the Sam Hood Rosebowl for Outstanding Performance during his time at Leeds Music College (where he graduated with a first class pass, including distinction in arranging), Dave has composed soundtracks for numerous short films, TV and multimedia productions and has co-written a guitar concerto with Classic FM favourite Nick Fletcher.
Current live projects include duo concerts with singer / multi instrumentalist Sally Minnear. Dave is also keyboardist for the legendary Zombies singer Colin Blunstone and guitarist/keys player for Lifesigns (featuring John Young).
Dave has released four solo albums. 'Veil of Gossamer' (2004), ‘Celestial Fire’, (2014), ‘The Remembering’ (2016) and 'To The Far Away' (2021). His fifth solo album 'On the Edge (of what could be)' is due for release mid 2025. There have also been several collaborative albums and DVD releases with both Troy Donockley (Nightwish) and David Fitzgerald (Iona co-founder). The Celestial Fire band 'Live in the UK' dvd/2cd was released in 2017, and 'Live in the Studio', his first release with Sally Minnear was released in 2018.
When not touring, Dave spends his time recording, producing, mixing and writing. He has produced 12 albums for Iona, all his own solo and collaborative albums, and projects for several other artists in genres ranging from acoustic jazz through classical guitar to progressive rock.
Dave is a Vintage Guitars endorsee.