Dave Eshelman Biography and Press

Dave Eshelman is Director Emeritus of Jazz Studies at California State University, East Bay. Dave led the CSU East Bay Jazz Ensemble on four European concert tours (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) as well as one tour to Brazil (2001). The band performed at the International Association of Jazz Education International Conference three times (1995, 1999, 2005). He has conducted the California CMEA All State Jazz Band, the Northern California Grammy In The Schools All Star Big Band and numerous district and county honor jazz bands.

As a trombonist he has been a featured soloist with the big bands of Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Tito Puente and Gerald Wilson. His quartet CD release Mystique features John Abercrombie, guitar, John Patitucci, bass and drummer Peter Erskine. In the summer of 2002, Dave led an All-Star Big Band Tribute to West Coast Jazz in concerts at the Verona Jazz Festival in Italy and at the Vienne Jazz Festival in France.  Among those performing in that band were Bud Shank, Pete Jolly, Teddy Edwards, Joe La Barbara, Bobby Shew, Andy Martin, Bill Perkins, and Dick Nash.

He has recorded five projects as leader-composer of the Jazz Garden Big Band and four jazz albums in association with Ray Brown. Dave was commissioned by the San Jose Jazz Society to compose, record, and perform Suite For Jazz Orchestra with his big band at the San Jose Jazz Festival. He has written, conducted and recorded three CD projects for Philippe Kahn featuring jazz greats John Abercrombie, Alex Acuna, Richie Bierach, Terence Blanchard, Alan Broadbent, Patty Cathcart, Don Cherry, Paul Contos, Peter Erskine, Charlie Haden, Billy Hart, Dave Liebman, Ron McClure and John Patitucci.

Dave publishes with the Neil Kjos Music Company and Walrus Music Publishing. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded and performed by bands throughout the United States and Europe. Since retiring in 2007 he has performed as guest soloist with De Anza College, Albany High School, Diablo Valley College, El Cerrito High School, The Jazz School Big Band, Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz High School, The Sacramento Jazz Orchestra, CSU East Bay at Yoshi’s , St. Mary’s College and presented clinics for the CMEA State and Bay Section Conferences. Dave currently teaches every summer at the Hayward-La Honda Music Camp and  leads the Jazzschool Studio Band at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California.

PRESS

Jazz Garden Big Band: Individual excitement…collective virtuosity…4 1/2 stars  downbeat;  Scintillating…fascinating…thrilling…beautiful…The Penguin Guide To Jazz;  Absorbing stuff…Rapport;  As big bands go this must rank as one of the best around today…  Jazz Journal International;   Consistently satisfying…  JAZZIZ

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East Bay Newspaper Group, November 2022

SOCIAL MEDIA
Sample Quotes from the audiences in social media:

East Bay World Tour November 2022

Then we watched Dave Eshelman's killer big band perform, a super highlight of the year for me.     Michael

Another great night of jazz as I heard Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band at the CJC.     Mark

Finally got to see Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band 30 years after playing many of his tunes in Tokyo. Extremely excited to hear "Dance of the Scorpion" as the opening tune.    Noriyuki

Loved hearing Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band on the final leg of their World Tour (of the East Bay) tonight.  Amelia

What talent you assembled, Dave Eshelman with your Jazz Garden Big Band !! Blown away by jazz pros who I've known for years and some newer faces.    Alice

...this band is seriously smokin"    Matt

Congrats to them for a great evening of fun and fantastic music.    Brian

You and your band were phenominal.    Devon

Your concert last night was a musically mind-blowing millieu of magical merriment.    Michael

The band sounded great, and your charts are always so well crafted and fun. Thanks for making my week.    Dave

Great concert! Glad I was able to make it. Really enjoyed the new pieces.    Larry

Great show !     Brian

What a great show last night ! Top notch playing and terrific tunes/arrangements.     Rich

A great band.     Barry

We so enjoyed the show. I have posted all over Facebook that this evening was so entertaining. Bravo to you and the band.     Mo

A really great show. Thank you !!     Jeff

Great band then, great band now !!     Mike

You all sound amazing !     Mike

What a great band Dave Eshelman put together !  Todd

Such a great show ! Congrats to Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden !     Lieven

You guys sounded amazing as always !!     Rina

What a band !!     Aaron

Amazing show.     Shingo

San Jose 2019

Stellar musicians.        Amelia

I wish The Jazz Garden played more often. You guys sounded awesome as always.      Rina

I'm honored to play with such a great band and to play Dave's brilliant music.      Eddie

Yoshi's 2018
So wonderful to watch Dave Eshelman and The Jazz Garden Big Band last night at Yoshi's.
So great to hear this music. On top of that some of the baddest touring musicians, writers and arrangers in the Bay.    Daniel

Monday night was an extraordinary night. The band sounded amazing.      Rina

Super Star Big Band     Dirk

Maggie had a blast.      Sean

College of San Mateo 2018

That's the best band I ever heard. And I've heard most of them... I'm 85.      Herb

Yoshi's Oakland October 15, 2018

The show was fantastic.                   JoAnne
 
Great show. Loved hearing some classics and some new.                                    Brad
 
A spectacular event it was Dave ! you never cease to amaze.                  Mike
 
That was a great show Dave. Many thanks to you and your talented crew.      Sarah
 
You guys and gals were amazing!!!!                        Dan
 
Awesome show. Love this big band sound!                        Carrie
 
Great concert tonight Dave ! Congratulations on 40 years of superb music!!    Ken
 
Amazing show !                     Brian
 
Fantastic music.                     Dale
 
Phenomenal jazz arranging and playing !              Dirk


De Anza College May 30, 2014

…keep the great music going…                                Barry

       …I am still on a euphoric high from the experience.  All the charts played were terrific and the execution was superb. What a treat for the ears.                                                                                                            Darrell

Still smiling…                                     Laura

Great band and awesome compositions and arrangements                    Rich

What fun!                               Steve

Yoshi's Oakland June 2, 2014

Unbelievable band !                         Carrie

It was a night of many brilliant stars… I was in awe at all the talent in that room!

Just fantastic!                         Alice

Great concert.                        Cynthia

The band was awesome ! So much fun…               Paula

… a shining example of the way jazz ought to be shared…                      Jim

What a treat to hear this wonderful band again. The band was great.              Paul

Full house at Yoshi's, great concert.            The band was fantastic.                  Justin

Dave Eshelman has really reached a large cross section of the Bay Area…    Ronnie

It was amazing.    Joe

Wow. What a great and inspiring concert.             Steve

There were several moments that gave me chills!                        Dianna

The Jazz Garden band was, as always, stupendous… extraordinary… impressive… gorgeous… terrific… excellent…
Thank you for a wonderful evening. I hope there are many more.                   Adrian

It was such an amazing evening…              Susan

Fabulous show tonight at Yoshi's. Thanks.                         Gerri

I cried twice.              Linda

There. Are. No. Words.   Feeling amazed.       Shamera