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david manson

composer, trombonist, contractor, presenter and educator

About Me

A musician with diverse musical interests, Manson began his performance career with positions in the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra and Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Later he toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and backed legendary artists including Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Tommy Tune, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany and others. He also recorded and performed with Cecil Taylor, Eugene Chadbourne, Davey Williams, John Lindberg, Diego Figueiredo & Sam Rivers. Manson’s degrees include a doctorate from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

He was trombonist and arranger for Bogus Pomp, an acclaimed Frank Zappa repertoire band, for 14 years. His 2002 recording “Fluid Motion” with jazz legend Sam Rivers, was selected by JazzTimes critic Duck Baker as his “vote for jazz record of the year.” Allaboutjazz critic Mark Corroto wrote: “Two Questions: Who are these guys? And what are they doing with Sam Rivers? Sorry for the New York-centric approach, but pressing the play button on this disc by Fluid Motion had me scrambling for the lineup. This quintet comes out kicking ass and I hadn’t taken in any names. Except, of course for Sam Rivers, the seventy-something saxophonist, a pillar in the 1960’s avant- movement and New York loft scene of the 70s.”

Manson is a recipient of ASCAP Awards, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, Artist Fellowships from the Florida Arts Council, Creative Pinellas and an artist feature in the Southern Arts Federation’s JazzSouth radio program. His orchestral works have been performed by the Florida Orchestra and others. He has curated the EMIT series of adventurous music at the Salvador Dali Museum and other local venues for the past 28 years. He also directs the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, in its 15th season, and the EMIT Latin Jazz Fest.

David leads Brazilian group O Som Do Jazz and directs the 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra and teaches Pro Tools courses in the MIRA (Music Industry/Recording Arts) program at St. Petersburg College. Recordings include: Modern Music for Trombone, Visions, Fluid Motion, Infinita Bossa, Beast, Particle Zoo, A Kiss for Rio, Radiant Forces (a dvd of the Helios Jazz Orchestra), “Go!” and his most recent release “Aberto” by O Som Do Jazz. His original music has been placed in shows on HBO, Fox, NBC, Showtime, CW, BBC and AMC.