jazz, free-jazz and improvised music

mark weber | david parlato – time line

David Parlato @ 725 March 22, 2o10  Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | Photo by Mark Weber

DAVID PARLATO

Time Line

1945 Oct. 31 — Born in Los Angeles. Father was a trumpeter & singer, worked with Kay Kyser, Horace Heidt, Lawrence Welk

1955 — DP began as a trumpet player in the 5th grade. Listens to parent’s record collection and the pop music of the day on the radio

1960 — Spring — 9th grade @ Notre Dame High School — makes his first album SPRING BAND FESTIVAL as a member of the trumpet section of the school marching band

1960 — buys his first jazz record CANNONBALL ADDERLEY QUINTET PLUS — greatly changes listening and playing habits from dixieland and pop to the instrumental small jazz groups of Miles and Coltrane

1963 — graduates high school — attends Loyola of Los Angeles as a Math Major while still playing Miles-style trumpet

1965 — age 19 — moved out of parents house — changed college to: Valley State College, Northridge, California (aka San Fernando Valley State College) — became music major — dental problems ended trumpet player — decided to depend upon hands to play music — consider’d drums or acoustic bass — picked bass to stay with the notes — played along with jazz radio shows before I even knew the notes on the bass — studied classical method with the German bow with Nat Gangursky — practiced on the bass six to eight hours a day — working with piano trio in beer bars of bowling alleys six nights a week playing “The In Crowd” — pay was dinner plus $20/night

1965 – 1968 — Valley State College, Northridge, CA (aka San Fernando Valley State College)

1965 – 1967 — Studies jazz bass with Monty Budwig — buys one-hundred-year-old Italian bass from Monty (this is the second bass DP owned) — Played in Stan Kenton’s Junior Neophonic Orchestra — Plays many jam sessions, meets L.A. musicians

1967 — First professional job — with Don Ellis Orchestra — played Monterey Jazz Fest 1967, 1968 and Newport Jazz Fest, 1968 Recorded two (?) albums LIVE IN 3 2/3 (over) 4 TIME Live at Shelly’s Manne Hole, March 27, 1967(Pacific Jazz)(DP only on half of the album) and ELECTRIC BATH, 1967 [Note: DP not on album LIVE AT MONTEREY which was 1966 just before he joined] *European tour w/Don Ellis, summer 1969

1967 — October drafted into U.S. Army — was out in 6 months, March 1968 mid-60s — plays with Mose Allison at Shelly’s Manne Hole

1968 — February 14-15 recorded Don Ellis album SHOCK TREATMENT (Columbia Records)

1968 Spring — Worked as a sub 5 shows one weekend w/Buddy Rich Big Band (Don Menza in the group) when “West Side Story” was in the repertoire — was asked to join formally, turned it down — on the first gig, DP standing next to Buddy’s drum kit, Buddy said to him, “Don’t keep it a secret, kid.” (translation: play loud)

1968 – 1970 — w/ Paul Horn — recorded two albums THE CONCERT ENSEMBLE (Ovation Records)(Fred Katz wrote a pc. for this album and Joyce Collins played piano) and A SPECIAL EDITION (1970)(Island Records)(originally released as a double-Lp)

1968 – 1990 — As a freelance musician in Los Angeles worked with Barbra Streisand, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Helen Reddy, Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, Peter Allen, Jerry Lee Lewis, Glen Campbell, Lisa Minelli, Paul Williams

1968 — recorded with vocal group The Sound of Feeling for their second album SPLEEN — singers Alyce Andrece, Rhae Andrece, and Gary David. This ensemble always used two basses and their principle bassist Ray Neapolitan recommend DP. Also on the session was Fred Katz, cello; Paul Beaver, moog synthesizer; Emil Richards, microtonal vibes & perc; Maurice Miller, drums; Joe Roccisano, saxes & flutes; Gayle Levant, harp. Produced by Leonard Feather.

1969 — w/ Frank Strazzeri — recorded two albums, THAT’S HIM and THIS IS NEW

1969 – 1972 — w/Warne Marsh Quartet w/Gary Foster, John Tirabasso, Dave Koonse Sept 14 and Oct 25, 1969 recorded album NE PLUS ULTRA (Revelation Records) @ Herrick Chapel Lounge, Occidental College May 27, 1972 Recorded @ Ice House (unreleased Revelation Records)

1969 – 1971 — w/ Gil Melle — recorded WATERBIRDS (Nocturne Records)

1970 — Married artist Judy Frisk (mother of DP’s two daughters) and they lived in Carpenteria for first half of 1970, then moved further north to Vancouver Island when Paul Horn needed DP for various projects and lived there 6 months

1970 — either just before marriage or right after he and Judy did a month-long Maharishi retreat in Humbolt County — he thinks it might have been in the fall — was Maharishi there?

1970 November 22 — Warne Marsh Quartet — 2 sets @ Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, California w/ Gary Foster, David, John Tirabasso

1971 January — Moved back to L.A. and rented a house in Santa Monica — “that January I had a jam session at my house every day and that resulted in a lot of work — it was the beginning of an incredibly active ten years”

1970 – 1972 — w/ Tim Weisberg — recorded on A&M — played Monterey Jazz Festival

1972 — Moved his family to Studio City — bought a house and lived there 4 years

1972 – 1974 — w/ John Klemmer — recorded on Impulse early 70s Worked at the Roxy on Sunset Blvd (w/Susan Sarandon) in the Rocky Horror Show

1972 — w/ Frank Zappa — touring/recording through the 70s

1973 — w/ (one of the earliest world fusion groups) Ashish Khan-Alla Rakha-Emil Richards- Don Preston *recorded with Don Preston’s Ogo Moto (see DP cd RETROSPECTIVE)

1974 – 1975 — w/ Gabor Szabo “tons of gigs with Gabor Szabo — Donte’s, the Lighthouse, the Manne Hole, the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco for two nights — mostly a quartet — I was on electric bass at that time, and composing more than half of the material for this band — When we took this material into the studio — Bob James, producing — he decided he didn’t like the material, and cancelled all the rest of the sessions and brought in his own people….” ( DP put a union suit on Gabor to be paid for the cancelled sessions and won.) mid-70s — Appears on one Martin Mull album (Hal Blaine on these sessions) — and in a tv HBO special w/the comedian/parodist/satiric actor/guitarist [ was DP in Martin’s working band The Furniture ?]

1976 — Moved his family (Judy & the daughters & dogs) to the Valley Vista house in Van Nuys in the hills, very exclusive neighborhood, within walking distance of Carmelo’s jazz club

1976 December — The Lawrence Welk Show “The Italian Special — spotlighting Italian members of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra” — DP’s father Charlie was a long-time member (28 years?) and he brought his two sons onto the Italian Special to play “Big Noise From Winnetka”(Bob Haggart)(BH & Ray Bauduc of the Bobcats did it first in 1938) in a trio — Charlie, trumpet; Chris Parlato, drums; DP, bass.

1976 – 1979? — Worked with Shelly Manne at the Manne Hole — same band with Paul Horn — replaced by John Heard when John came to town with Jean-Luc Ponty from San Francisco — started playing electric bass after Manne Hole gig Bud Shank at Donte’s with Larry Bunker on drums Don Menza big band/small groups around the time of Carmelo’s jazz club Bobby Shew at Pasquale’s in Malibu Beach *infamous Bob Dylan audition

1979 — Record w/ Jerry Lee Lewis in Hollywood (two sessions — ten tracks have been released) produced by Bones Howe — band includes: James Burton, guitar; Kenny Lovelace, violin & guitar; Hal Blaine, drums; Tim May, guitar; DP, elec. bass; The Ron Hicklin Singers; Strings arranged & conducted by Bob Alcivar

1980s — television steady gig on John Davidson Show — also, a show called Fridays

1982 — Recorded with L.Subramaniam — two tracks released in 1983 on the violinist’s Lp SPANISH WAVE (Milestone) * DP remembers Herbie Hancock being on one of these recording sessions for this album, and he played with him — band included: Tom Scott, sop. sax & flute; Larry Coryell, guitar; Alla Rakha, tabla; Emil Richards, vibes; Ralph Humphrey, drums; DP, elec. bass

1990 — moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico early 1990s — Oasis trio with Jerry Jensen & Michael Anthony Mirage trio with Ricky Malachi & Bert Dalton

1993 Oct 4 — Jazz Chamber Ensemble @ Outpost — (quartet without chords) DP, John Trentacosta, Jerry Jensen, Arlen Asher

1994 Fall — Conceived idea of Outpost Repertory Jazz Orchestra First public performance @ Outpost Performance Space, April 30, 1995 Live over KUNM radio ORJO went through six “Phases” lasting till August 25, 1997 (David’s going away party — moved to NYC)

1996 October 10-18 — records the cd THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS in duet with pianst Sid Fedley in Albuquerque

1996 – 2005 — Many & various projects with poet Mark Weber — concerts and recordings for Zerx Records

1996 August 15 — appears on Roy Durfee’s KUNM noon jazz radio show w/ his daughter Gretchen and they perform “Confirmation,” “Cherokee,” and a poem “Black Cat” w/Mark Weber (Gretchen doing cat meows) (Subsequent appearances w/Gretchen on KUNM w/Mark Weber as dj — 10july97 and 2apr98 and another time on Ear To The Ground, Sunday Live show)

1997 January 11 — ORJO backs Clark Terry at Albuquerque Little Theatre mid-to-late 1990s — *performs with Nick Brignola @ Outpost — John Trentacosta on the gig *performs with Frank Morgan around New Mexico *books Friday night gigs with quartet at micro brewery on Central Avenue downtown Albuquerque for 6 months *performs with Mose Allison (w/Pete Amahl) in Albuquerque

1998 Sept 20 — performed with guitarist Joshua Breakstone @ Anasazi Fields Winery, Placitas NM. Also backed Chris Calloway that day.

1998 December 21 — Phase VII ORJO under direction of David who has returned to Albuquerque

1998 — In cooperation with Outpost Productions initiates on-going Summer Monday Jazz Nights

1999 – 2007 — Member of guitarist Michael Anthony’s Natural Instincts Trio (w/Andy Poling, drums) making four cdS: ACOUSTIC MOODS, 1999; NATURAL INSTINCTS, 2000; NEW JOURNEY, 2004; and NOSTALGIA, 2007 [ Did this group form before 1999?]

2001 June 11 — performs his “Psalms” w/ octet @ Outpost Performance Space

2001 June 15, 16, 18, 19 — employs Mark Weber to paint exterior of his house @ 2729 Monroe NE, Albuquerque USA

2002 July 8 — performs with bass trio BassWorks @ Outpost (w/ Bob Daugherty, Chris Threlkeld)

2002 April 22 — performed @ Outpost w/ Lee Konitz Trio (w/John Trentacosta, drums). Only the second set was recorded as per Lee’s direction, which he later regretted not having both sets recorded

2002 July 25 & 26 — records cd NO NEED FOR WORDS w/Straight Up

2002 late November — records double-cd WHEREVER YOU ARE in duet w/ pianst Peter Cover. This record won the coveted Mark Weber Award for Greatest Recorded Sound Onto a Compact Disk. Engineered by Manny Rettinger @ Ubik Sound, Albuquerque

2003? — plays with Steve Allen in Albuquerque — w/Andy Poling and Steve’s pianist from L.A.: Paul Smith ( ! )

2003? — plays with Kenny Davern

2005 May 13 — married Lisa Flynn,a graphics artist. Moved to Santa Fe.

2005 June 23 & 24 — record CD w/ Glenn Kostur Trio (w/John Bartlit on drums)

2007 July 19 — performs with Bobby Shew-Gary Foster Quintet (Stu MacAskie, John Bartlit) Outpost Performance Space

2007 October 12 — performed with John Trentacosta’s quintet Straight Up @ Eldorado Hotel, SF (w/Paul Gonzales, Arlen Asher, Brian Bennett )

2007 November 15 — final public performance — with Michael Anthony Natural Instincts Trio w/Andy Poling @ Outpost Performance Space, Albuquerque ( His last note was an F ) He formally retired from public performance.

2009 November — Ends a 12-year stint as jazz educator for the Outpost Performance Space

2010 January 21; February 18; April 1 — The Third Eye Jazz Radio Show, KUNM Albuquerque, guest on Mark Weber’s radio show to discuss his musical life

2010 May 14 & 15 — Santa Fe Community College Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr Priscilla Zimmermann performs his music “Come Away, Come Away, Death” (text by William Shakespeare) — he is a singer in this 14-member ensemble

2010 June 10 — three Albuquerque jazz bassists, Triple Play, perform his music, “Triple Play” specifically written for them and this broadcast — produced by Mark Weber, KUNM Thursday jazz radio show


Michael Anthony and David Parlato | 30 May 2001 | Photo by Mark Weber

7 Comments

  1. Dick Trask

    Thanks, Mark. Great and fascinating summary…Dave’s memory is infiniitely better than mine!

    Dick

  2. David Parlato

    Hey Guys:

    Thanks so much to both Mark and Klaus for an outstanding presentation of the material in the David Parlato Time Line.

    I am gratful and very appreciative to both of you for such fine work!

    Peace and Love

    david parlato
    parlato45@yahoo.com

    namaste…

  3. Rita

    Man, that’s quite a bio. Great resource.

    Six degrees of separation: I think I crossed paths with Judy Frisk in the TM Movement. And, I was at the Beverly Theater for something in 1982. We could have crossed paths. What a world, eh?

    Rita

  4. Rita

    Yes, Maharishi was there.

  5. Charley Krachy

    Mark,
    Thanks for sending this….very interesting….the guy had some career…
    our group will be recording soon & I’ll send you some more..

    thanks for everything….charley

  6. James Bongard

    Thanks Mark enjoyed this timeline very much!

  7. Michael Foris

    My name is Mike Foris and I am the Artistic Director for the Music in Corrales series in Corrales, New Mexico. We are between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. For more information on our series please see our website at http://www.musicincorrales.org.

    I would like to ask the following questions regarding Dave Parlato:

    1. What is his fee to perform an adult jazz concert?

    2. What is his availability to perform an adult concert in the September 2014 to April 2015 time frame? Our concerts are typically on the third Saturday night of each month.

    3. Does he have an educationally oriented program for school age children (elementary, mid-school, or high school) and if so what would he charge to put on such a program?

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

    Regards,

    Mike Foris
    Artistic Director
    Music in Corrales
    foris49@msn.com

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2024 metropolis

Theme by Anders Noren adapted for M.etropolis by RavanHUp ↑