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

vibraphone The vibraphone (also called the vibraharp) is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using Percussion mallet, mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone ...

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 mari ...

player. He appeared on many albums by

Nick Brignola Nicholas Thomas "Nick" Brignola (July 17, 1936 – February 8, 2002) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. Biography Brignola was born on July 17, 1936, in Troy, New York. He was born into a musical family in which his father played the t ...

Paul Bley Paul Bley, Order of Canada, CM (November 10, 1932 – January 3, 2016) was a Canadian jazz pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing and his early live per ...

and

Kenny Clarke Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914January 26, 1985), known professionally as Kenny Clarke and 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 ...

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, block chords, innovative chord voicings, a ...

, and

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

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

MPS Records MPS Records was a German jazz record company and label founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" (Music Production Black Forest). History Originally based in Villingen, MPS was founded as the suc ...

Biography

Pike learned drums at the age of eight and was self-taught on vibraphone. He made his recording debut with the

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 had become more exploratory, contributing a unique voice and new contexts that pushed the envelope in times remembered for their exploratory nature. ''The Doors of Perception'', recorded in 1966 (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 the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

subsidiary

Vortex Records Vortex Records was a jazz subsidiary of Atlantic Records that released 14 albums between 1968 and 1970, including the debut albums by Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American j ...

) and produced by former boss Herbie Mann, explored

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

, 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 ...

, with

free Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, the ability to act or change without constraint or restriction * Emancipate, attaining civil and political rights or equality * Free (''gratis''), free of charge * Gratis versus libre, the difference betw ...

and lyrical improvisation, and featured musicians including alto saxophonist

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

, bassist

Chuck Israels Charles H. Israels (born August 10, 1936) is an American jazz composer, arranger, and bassist who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. He has also worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hanc ...

and pianist

Don Friedman Donald Ernest Friedman (May 4, 1935 – June 30, 2016) was an American jazz pianist. He began playing in Los Angeles and moved to New York in 1958. In the 1960s, he played with both modern stylists and more traditional musicians. Early life Fr ...

. Pike moved to Europe and signed with

. With the collaboration of

Volker Kriegel Volker Kriegel (24 December 1943 – 14 June 2003) was a German jazz guitarist and composer who was a founding member of the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble. He was also an author and a cartoonist. Biography Kriegel was born in Darmstadt on 2 ...

(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 to 1972 that ran the gamut from funky grooves to free, textural territory. Though short-lived, the group 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. Dave Pike died in

Del Mar, California Del Mar (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach city 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 population was 3,954 ...

of emphysema, aged 77.

Discography

As leader

* '' It's Time for Dave Pike'' (Riverside, 1961) * ''

Pike's Peak Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The ultra-prominent fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The town of Manitou Sprin ...

'' (Epic, 1962) – rec. 1961 * '' Bossa Nova Carnival'' (New Jazz, 1962) * ''

Limbo Carnival ''Limbo Carnival'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1962 for the Prestige Records, New Jazz label.Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver!'' (Moodsville, 1963) – rec. 1962 * '' Manhattan Latin'' (Decca, 1964) * '' Jazz for the Jet Set'' (Atlantic, 1966) – rec. 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, ranging ...

'' (Vortex, 1970) – live rec. 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 ''Pike's Groove'' is an album led by vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1986 and released by the Criss Cross Jazz label.Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz Flute, flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet ...

* ''

Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues ''Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues'' (also released as ''Brazil Blues'' and ''Jazz Impressions of Brazil'') is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1962 for the United Artists label.Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate ''Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate'' is a live album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1961 for the Atlantic Records, Atlantic label but not released until 1963.Herbie Mann Live at Newport'' (Atlantic, 1963) – live * '' My Kinda Groove'' (Atlantic, 1965) – rec. 1964 * '' Latin Mann'' ( Columbia, 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'' (Atlantic, 1966) – rec. 1965 * '' Today!'' (Atlantic, 1966) – rec. 1965 * ''The Evolution of Mann'' (Atlantic, 1972) LP– compilations With others *

, ''Solemn Meditation'' (GNP, 1957) *

, ''All Business'' (Reservoir, 1999) *

Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...

, ''All Smiles'' (MPS, 1968) *

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

, ''Mellow-dy'' (LRC, 1992) *

The Jazz Couriers The Jazz Couriers were a British jazz quintet formed in April 1957 and which disbanded in August 1959. The quintet's first line-up consisted of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor saxophones,Babatunde Olatunji Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. Early life Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nig ...

, ''High Life!'' (Columbia, 1963) *

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American Swing music, 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� ...

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

References

External links

Obituary
''Los Angeles Times''
Dave Pike Interview
at NAMM Oral History Library (2007) {{DEFAULTSORT:Pike, Dave 1938 births 2015 deaths American jazz vibraphonists American marimbists Jazz musicians from Detroit Ubiquity Records artists Muse Records artists Riverside Records artists Criss Cross Jazz artists