David MacAulay Eyges (born November 6, 1950) is an American jazz cellist, composer, and record producer.
Early life
Eyges was born in San Francisco on November 6, 1950.Arwulf Arwul "David Eyges" AllMusic. His family settled in
Belmont, Massachusetts
Belmont is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a western suburb of Boston and is part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, its population was 27,295, an increase of 10.4% from 2010.
H ...
, in 1953. He began playing the piano aged five and had cello lessons from age 11. In 1968–69 he studied at
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
, and he was awarded a BA for cello studies by the
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory
A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
in 1972. Encounters with blues musicians in
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...
, were an important influence, as Eyges sought to transfer elements of their music to the cello.
Later life and career
"Eyges worked for a few years in various concert orchestras and theater ensembles, sometimes earning fees providing background music for commercials." His recording career began in 1974, with vibraphonist Bobby Paunetto. Eyges's debut album as leader – ''The Captain'' – came three years later. He married in 1976 and a son was born in 1984.
From 1987 Eyges specialized in playing a Tucker F. Barrett solid-body
electric cello
The electric cello is a type of cello that relies on electronic amplification (rather than acoustic resonance) to produce sound. An acoustic cello can be fitted with a bridge or body mounted contact pickup providing an electric signal, or a built- ...
. He commented that, in addition to being able to produce a variety of colours from the instrument, it had two advantages over an acoustic cello: "volume, because playing an acoustic instrument with a fierce drummer just doesn't make it; and transportability, since I can safely put it in the baggage compartments of planes and trains."Shoemaker, Bill (April 1, 1998 "David Eyges" ''JazzTimes''.
Eyges's playing influenced later generations of creative cellists, who appeared from the 1990s. He formed MidLantic Records in 2002 and produced albums for the label, as well as continuing to play.
Sunny Murray
James Marcellus Arthur "Sunny" Murray (September 21, 1936 – December 7, 2017) was an American musician, and was one of the pioneers of the free jazz style of drumming.
Biography
Murray was born in Idabel, Oklahoma, where he was raised by an ...
on drums) was bluesy and "Eyges treated his cello as a percussive instrument". When bowing, "the pieces called for long-breathed melodies".