David Sancious - Session and Touring Musician

Session and Touring Musician

Sancious has worked on everything from classical to rock, jazz, blues, and funk. While this has, perhaps, hindered his solo career, it has won him the respect of his peers; Peter Gabriel has referred to him as the "musician's musician." Consequently he has never been out of work.

Even when trying to establish himself as a solo artist, his skills were sought after and in the 1970s he was popular among the jazz fusion circuit. He toured and recorded with Stanley Clarke, playing guitar and keyboards in a band that included John McLaughlin and Billy Cobham.

In 1977 Sancious guested on the debut album by Narada Michael Walden. This was the first of several collaborations with the producer/songwriter. In the 1980s Walden regularly used a group of session musicians that included Sancious, Randy Jackson, and Corrado Rustici. These musicians recorded sessions with, among others, Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, and E Streeter Clarence Clemons, all produced by Walden. Rustici also established himself as a producer, most notably with fellow Italian, Zucchero Fornaciari. Sancious, Walden, and Jackson played on Zucchero's Rispetto, produced by Rustici. This was the first of several albums Sancious would record with Zucchero.

During the early 1980s he linked up again with Billy Cobham as a member of Jack Bruce & Friends and played with the band on The Old Grey Whistle Test and Rockpalast. He was then reunited with Alex Ligertwood when both were members of Santana.

In 1982, David recorded and toured with Jon Anderson of YES. Jon's, Animation album features David extensively. On Jon's Spring and Summer 1982 US Animation tour, David showcased his Piano and Synthesizer prowess on several YES tunes as well as Jon Anderson tunes. But Jon wanted Sancious to get some real exposure so he included one of David's solo works in the set. The Play and Display of the Heart, track 3 on David's, Transformation (The Speed of Love), album was a regular showstopper. You can hear an entire Animation concert at Wolfgang's Vault

By 1988 Sancious was a member of Peter Gabriel's touring band and he played with the singer during the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour. This led to a mini-reunion with Springsteen and the E Street Band, with Sancious sitting in on several occasions throughout the tour. He also recorded some new sessions with Springsteen which were later released on Human Touch and Tracks.

He would also record and tour with two of that tour's other headliners, Sting and Youssou N'Dour. He played keyboards on Sting's The Soul Cages and Ten Summoner's Tales albums and toured with Sting in support of both.

Other session and touring work Sancious has done includes Living Colour, Seal, Bryan Ferry, Julia Fordham, Robbie Dupree, Natalie Merchant, Eric Clapton, Jon Anderson of Yes, and Hall & Oates.

More recently Sancious has released two new solo recordings, Nine Piano Improvisations (2000) and Cinema (2005). In 2006, Sancious teamed up with guitarist and singer /songwriter Francis Dunnery to play keyboards and make a several live appearances for Dunnery's The Gulley Flats Boys.

In 2003 David recorded Robbie Dupree with David Sancious and received wide appeal for this very intimate recording. This 9 song CD was well received in jazz circles across the United States and Europe.

In 2005 Sancious would be interviewed for, and featured in, the Wings For Wheels documentary included on the Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition re-release of the famed Springsteen song and album.

In 2007 David released LIVE in the now, a selection of recordings of live performances by Sancious featuring drummer Joe Bonadio on several tracks.

In 2007 and 2008 Sancious toured with Zucchero Fornaciari during the "Fly" and "All The Best" world tours.

In 2009, Sancious toured Australia, New Zealand, and Japan on keyboards with Jeff Beck, who was accompanied by Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Tal Wilkenfeld on bass.

In 2010, Sancious toured the UK with Francis Dunnery "Fearless Tour", Tony Beard on drums, Jamie Bishop on bass & Dorie Jackson vocals