David Samuel Pike (March 23, 1938 – October 3, 2015) was an American jazz

vibraphone The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist, ...

and

marimba The marimba () is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the timbr ...

player. He appeared on many albums by Nick Brignola, Paul Bley and

Kenny Clarke Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914January 26, 1985), nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride cymbal to keep time rather than the hi-h ...

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

, and

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inc ...

. He also recorded extensively as leader, including a number of albums on MPS Records.

Biography

He learned drums at the age of eight and was self-taught on vibraphone. Pike made his recording debut with the Paul Bley Quartet in 1958. He began putting an amplifier on his vibes, when working with flautist

in the early-1960s. By the late-1960s, Pike's music became more exploratory, contributing a unique voice and new contexts that pushed the envelope in times remembered for their exploratory nature. ''The Doors of Perception'', released in 1970 for the

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...

subsidiary Vortex Records, and produced by former boss Herbie Mann, explored

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or '' ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, modal territory,

musique concrète Musique concrète (; ): " problem for any translator of an academic work in French is that the language is relatively abstract and theoretical compared to English; one might even say that the mode of thinking itself tends to be more schematic, wit ...

, with

free Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything * Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism * Emancipate, to procur ...

and lyrical improvisation, and included musicians including alto saxophonist

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jaz ...

, bassist Chuck Israels and pianist Don Friedman. Pike moved to Europe and signed with MPS Records. With the collaboration of Volker Kriegel (guitar), J. A. Rettenbacher (acoustic and electric bass), and Peter Baumeister (drums), he formed the Dave Pike Set. The group recorded six records from 1969-1972 that ran the gamut from funky grooves to free, textural territory. The group, though short-lived, created a unique identity and textural palette. Kriegel's compositional and instrumental (playing acoustic, classical, and electric guitar as well as sitar) contributions to the group helped set the Dave Pike Set's sound apart, organically incorporating influences from jazz, soul jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde music, and world music. He died in

Del Mar, California Del Mar (; Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach town in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the ...

of emphysema, aged 77.

Discography

As leader

* '' It's Time for Dave Pike'' (Riverside, 1961) * '' Pike's Peak'' (Epic, 1962) – recorded in 1961 * '' Bossa Nova Carnival'' (New Jazz, 1962) * '' Limbo Carnival'' (New Jazz, 1962) * ''

Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver! ''Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver!'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike performing compositions by Lionel Bart from the musical ''Oliver!'' which was recorded in 1962 for the Prestige Records, Moodsville label.

'' (Moodsville, 1963) – recorded in 1962 * '' Manhattan Latin'' (Decca, 1964) * '' Jazz for the Jet Set'' (Atlantic, 1966) – recorded in 1965 * ''Got the Feelin'' (Relax, 1969) * ''Four Reasons'' (MPS, 1969) * ''Noisy Silence/Gentle Noise'' (MPS, 1969) * ''Live at the Philharmonie'' (MPS, 1970) * ''Infra-Red'' (MPS, 1970) * ''

The Doors of Perception ''The Doors of Perception'' is an autobiographical book written by Aldous Huxley. Published in 1954, it elaborates on his psychedelic experience under the influence of mescaline in May 1953. Huxley recalls the insights he experienced, rangi ...

'' (Vortex, 1970) – live recorded in 1966 * ''Album'' (MPS/BASF, 1971) * ''Salomao'' (MPS/BASF, 1972) * ''Times Out of Mind'' (Muse, 1976) * ''On a Gentle Note'' (Muse, 1978) * ''Let the Minstrels Play On'' (Muse, 1980) * ''Moon Bird'' (Muse, 1983) * '' Pike's Groove'' (Criss Cross, 1986) * ''Bluebird'' (Timeless, 1989) * ''Bophead'' (Ubiquity, 1998) * ''Peligroso'' (CuBop, 2000) * ''At Studio 2'' (B.Free, 2016)

As sideman

With

* '' Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues'' (United Artists, 1962) * '' Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate'' (Atlantic, 1963) * '' Herbie Mann Live at Newport'' (Atlantic, 1963) – live * '' My Kinda Groove'' (Atlantic, 1965) – recorded in 1964 * ''

Latin Mann ''Latin Mann'' (subtitled ''Afro to Bossa to Blues'') is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded for the Columbia label and released in 1965. Mann's contract with Atlantic Records allowed him to record the album for another label. ...

'' (

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, 1965) * '' Standing Ovation at Newport'' (Atlantic, 1965) – live * ''The Roar of the Greasepaint the Smell of the Crowd'' (Atlantic, 1965) * ''

Monday Night at the Village Gate ''Monday Night at the Village Gate'' is a live album by American jazz flutist Herbie Mann recorded at The Village Gate in 1965 and released on the Atlantic Records, Atlantic label the following year.Today! Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 A ...

'' (Atlantic, 1966) – recorded in 1965 * ''The Evolution of Mann'' (Atlantic, 1972) LP– compilations With others * Paul Bley, ''Solemn Meditation'' (GNP, 1957) * Nick Brignola, ''All Business'' (Reservoir, 1999) * Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band, ''All Smiles'' (MPS, 1968) *

Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tuba and flugelho ...

, ''Mellow-dy'' (LRC, 1992) * The Jazz Couriers, ''Gene Norman Presents the Jazz Couriers'' (Whippet, 1957) * Babatunde Olatunji, ''High Life!'' (Columbia, 1963) *

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duke ...

, ''At the Montreux Jazz Festival'' (Polydor, 1970)

References

External links

Obituary
''Los Angeles Times''
Interview with Dave Pike
National Association of Music Merchants Oral History Program (2007) {{DEFAULTSORT:Pike, Dave 1938 births 2015 deaths American jazz vibraphonists American marimbists Musicians from Detroit Ubiquity Records artists Muse Records artists Riverside Records artists Jazz musicians from Michigan Criss Cross Jazz artists