Dave’s earliest musical influence was his uncle, Sammy Sherman. As a youngster Dave often saw Sammy in his AMVET’s dress uniform…trombone in hand. By the age of 10, Dave was taking weekly lessons from his uncle. "Sammy taught me every Sunday morning in between driving his own children to and from religious school. "Sammy taught me to play in all seven positions before I ever learned a tune."

Another early influence on Dave was jazz guitarist, Alvin Pulley. "I first heard Alvin when I was about 8 years old. It was at a wedding reception in Woonsocket, RI. I remember thinking that Alvin’s playing was the most beautiful music that I had heard."

Dave played in the Woonsocket Jr. High School band under the direction of Alfred Lague. In high school, Dave was greatly influenced by Larry Bernard, a great bandleader and jazz saxophonist, and also by Jim Castaldi. "Jim Castaldi was just starting his teaching career and was a major influence on several of us. He had just graduated from Berklee and was someone that we could easily relate to."

While attending college in Boston during the late 60s and early 70s, Dave was exposed to a lot of different types of music, but his main interest was jazz. "I heard Stan Getz when I was a senior in high school and I was hooked on jazz from that moment." Dave, and a fellow trombonist and classmate from high school, Don Brouillette, hitchhiked to Rhode Island College. "I had never heard of Stan Getz before, but I wouldn’t admit it to Don."

In college Dave started collecting jazz albums, as well as seeking out clubs that offered live jazz. During his time in Boston he was fortunate enough to hear Betty Carter, George Russell, Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Chicago Transit Authority, B.B. King, and Maynard Ferguson.. "In my freshman year I went to the Boston Globe Jazz Festival. On the bill was Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Roland Kirk, Alan Dawson and Frank Zappa."

Dave was enrolled at Northeastern majoring in engineering, and wasn’t playing the trombone during his college days. But that didn’t stop him from spending a lot of time listening to jazz records - sometimes alone, and sometimes with his uncle. "I would shop the bargain bins and drop in to share my treasures with Sammy. We listened to everything from Albert Mangelsdorff to Frank Zappa. None of my friends were listening to much jazz so my visits with Sam were something special."

Another influence on Dave was Fred Grady. Grady had a jazz program on WXTR out of Pawtucket, RI. Grady’s nightly radio program introduced a whole generation to the world of jazz. His theme song, "My Buddy" by Buddy Bregman, is on an out-of-print album called "Swingin’ Standards".

Dave began playing again in 1990 and his playing style is greatly influenced by his uncle, Sammy Sherman. "Sam’s approach to jazz was one of melody. Learn the melody, then embellish the melody and take off from there. He used a lot of doodle-tonguing, and playing against the grain."  

Dave has participated in several jazz ensembles including a few semesters in the CCRI Jazz Ensemble. "Dr. Lajoi does a great job running the jazz program at CCRI. This program is one of the best around."

A recent highlight of Dave’s career was playing at a Sammy Sherman tribute concert at Chan’s Jazz Club in Woonsocket, RI. "This was the first time that I ever played with my cousin Daryl and her group. It was a wonderful experience. I was presented with one of my uncle’s trombones which is now one of my most treasured possessions."

Today Dave is busy freelancing in a variety of bands including big bands, R&B bands and small jazz and dance combos. "I love to play for dancers whether they’re swinging or ballroom dancing. There’s nothing as exciting as watching a room full of dancers."

04/06/2009

email Dave at dsherman772@hotmail.com