For the past 30 years, David Ambrosio has been one of New York City’s finest freelance musicians and educators. His current working projects as a leader are CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: Blue Note Records in the Progressive ‘60s, featuring Grammy nominated saxophonist Donny McCaslin and drumming legend Victor Lewis; and the David Ambrosio Trio, featuring saxophonist Loren Stillman.
In addition to his own ensembles, he is the co-leader of the David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sextet, 40Twenty, and Grupo Los Santos, as well as being a part of many other groups including George Schuller’s Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Ted Nash and Andy Farber. He has performed with such jazz greats as Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon, and Ralph Alessi
David’s third recording as leader, Four on the Road (Fresh Sound Records, 2018), was praised as “Swinging brilliance in the light of interactive engagement, creating music that challenges while remaining largely accessible” by Dan Bilawsky of All About Jazz.
With degrees in classical composition and jazz performance, David has a broad musical palate that has become even more intensified by his extensive travel experiences. In 2001 he had the opportunity to perform in Cuba with Grupo Los Santos, Max Pollack’s Rumbatap, as well as numerous local Afro/Cuban folkloric music and dance ensembles. Not long after, he began what has become a 14-year period of intense study of Afro/Cuban Bata drumming with master drummers Miguel Bernal, Carlos Gomez, and Carlos Aldama.
David has also frequently toured in Central and South East Asia on behalf of the US State Department as a performer and clinician. Currently he is on the faculty at Hunter College and the New York Jazz Workshop in NYC.
CURRENT CLASSES OFFERED
Jazz of the 1960’s
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6:30-8:30
Every week unless otherwise noted.
The focus of this class is in learning jazz repertoire from the vibrant era of the 1960’s, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the roots of these compositions. These classes are performance based and are meant to help the student improve their ability to create their own improvisations on this material as well as to gain the interaction experience of a professional jazz ensemble.
All instruments are welcome. Drums, piano, amps and microphones are provided. You just need your instrument!!
Please feel free to contact me with questions or to get more info.
Art of the Jam Session
Friday’s 7:30-9:30
Every week unless otherwise noted.
The focus of this class in essence is to recreate the NYC Jam session playing experience and explore all the typical encounters related to the typical “live” jam session environment. Consequently this class is structured a little differently than the other more theme based or conceptual classes listed here, generally creating a class where more and different material is played in each class. While there is still an evolution of the learning experience as the classes progress, it is based on developing the skills to navigate and function in the jam session “experience” itself. The material and musical concepts covered relate to the challenges and conventions of the public Jazz jam session which in turn help prepare students for that very experience.
All instruments are welcome. Drums, piano, amps and microphones are provided. You just need your instrument!!
Please feel free to contact me with questions or to get more info.
Bata Drumming Workshop
Same location but with flexible scheduling based on individual needs.
Please check out the bata section of this site to understand more of what the class is about.
LOCATION FOR ALL CLASSES
BQE Studios- Room 4425
2 Prince St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201