| DAVE
PIKE
Pike
has led one hell of a life entrenched in the jazz music business.
He emerged in the late 50's and quickly established himself as an
original voice on the vibraphone, recording several classic albums
with the likes of Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Paul Bley, Tommy Flanagan,
Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and others. He joined Herbie Mann's
band in the early 60's and is featured on the classic Family of
Mann on Atlantic. Pike later moved to Europe and in 1968 formed
the Dave Pike Set, one of the most popular European jazz groups
in Europe in the early 70's. It was with this group that Pike conjured
up “Mathar," a weird mix of psychedelic sitar and big
beats that became a club favorite over the past few years and was
even covered by Brit-pop demigod Paul Weller.
In 1964, Pike cut a record for Decca titled Manhattan Latin. The
record was released with little fanfare and modest sales. It quickly
slipped through the cracks until the late 1980s, when collectors
of Latin jazz and rare groove picked up on this recording and warmed
to Dave Pike in general. Now many of Pike's recordings from the
1960s and onwards fetch top dollar on the collectors market.
In 1998, Ubiquity released Bophead, Pike's first record as
a leader in twelve years, reaffirming that he is a force to be reckoned
with. During the summer of 2000 Ubiquity will release another milestone
record for Pike. The album, titled Peligroso (Español for
"dangerous") will be his first complete Latin jazz album
since Manhattan Latin. The project will have delight fans of Latin
jazz and those who first fell for the Pike vibe sound courtesy of
his time with Herbie Mann. Producer and musician Bobby Matos helps
Pike deliver hard-hitting Afro-Cuban tracks that complement Pikes
mallet work.
Dave Pike has most recently teamed up with CuBop band leader
Bobby Matos to record an album that stretches from fresh interpretations
of jazz standards to lush exotic Afro Cuban music. The new album
is called Peligroso and is released in late August 2000.
“Can we finally give this underground legend the recognition
he deserves?!”
-GAVIN |
