Dave Dallwitz - Career in Music

Career in Music

Dave was a jazz pianist, bandleader and composer in both the ragtime and dixieland idioms. He is perhaps best known for having worked with some of Australia's more progressive musicians such as John Sangster, Bob Barnard and Len Barnard. He also led the Dave Dallwitz Ragtime Ensemble.

He led the Southern Jazz Group from 1945 to 1951 then virtually abandoned jazz for a period, during which he studied at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, composing symphonic and chamber music and playing cello and bassoon in various groups. He became involved in composing and arranging music for revues, leading to the formation of the Flinders Street Revue Company, for which he also directed and played piano. He returned to jazz in 1970 and resumed recording shortly after, and is regarded as one of this country's important jazz personalities."

Dallwitz was an exponent of both Ragtime Music and 1920s Big Band Music. A highlight of Dave's career was the appearance of his Big band with added Sydney and Brisbane musicians at the Esso Jazz Summit on Sydney's Bondi Beach in 1986. The band's set was shown on ABC TV and was released on ABC Records.

The band comprised:

• Dave Dallwitz (Piano, arranger, leader)
• Gregory Englert(Lead Trumpet)
• Cliff Reese (2nd Trumpet)
• John Roberts (3rd Trumpet)
• Doc Willis (Trombone)
• Paul Baker (Banjo)
• John Roberts (Sousaphone)
• Bryan Kelly (Drums) and the saxophone section:
• Trevor Rippingale (1st Alto Saxophone and Clarinet)
• Paul Furniss (2nd Alto Saxophone and clarinet)
• John McCarthy (3rd Tenor Saxophone and clarinet)
• Tich Bray (Featured clarinet)