DAVID CHESKY
"Orchestral Urban Composer"
Biography
David Chesky, composer in Residence for the National Symphony of Taiwan, is without doubt a modern-day Renaissance man. In addition to his prominence in the audiophile community for the development of new recording technologies, he has earned great respect for his unique, eclectic musical compositions which span jazz and classical idioms. He is the only jazz composer to have ever been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary Classical Composition. In addition to composing orchestral music, David composes and plays piano with The Body Acoustic. The Grammy-nominated Latin jazz group plays a mixture of Latin jazz music with 12-tone and contemporary classical harmonies
Born in Miami in 1956, David Chesky moved to New York in 1974. Four years later, he officially began his career in music as the composer, arranger and pianist of his own jazz big band. With that ensemble, David performed at every major jazz club and festival (including Storyville, The Village Vanguard, The Newport, JVC, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. In 1978, the Columbia label released his album Rush Hour.
However, David did not limit himself to jazz composition, but he continually studied classical techniques and immersed himself in composing, arranging and orchestrating in both jazz and classical styles. His efforts were first displayed in 1984 when he composed Central Park Morning for the Empire Brass Quintet and Orchestra.
While he was developing as a composer, he was concerned that many recordings were being released in sound that was inferior to what late 20th century recording technology could produce. Thus, in 1986, with his brother Norman, David co-founded Chesky Records. This Grammy-winning label has released numerous classical, jazz and world titles. Their company is known throughout the world as being one of the leaders in the advancement of technological research on recording methods, creating new, advanced recording techniques, in order to make the finest musical recordings currently available. David personally has pioneered and is responsible for the creation of the world's first 128x oversampled recordings, the world's first 96kHz/24bit recordings, and the world's first 6.0 multichannel 96/24 DVD-Audio Discs. In addition to recording, David has designed the acoustic architecture for many audio products. David acts as producer and artistic director on all Chesky Records and has produced over 500 albums of some of the worlds most accomplished artists. Undoubtedly, Chesky Records is one of the preeminent audiophile record labels in the world. David's quest for high quality sound reproduction has not stopped, he recently created the first company of its kind, HDtracks.com. HDtracks is the only music download service on the web that can deliver CD and DVD audio quality music files with complete liner notes, another first in music technology!
In 1987, he released his first jazz quintet recording Club de Sol, which was an unequivocal success, garnering critical raves from the jazz community. Following this release, David pushed forward the possibilities of jazz/classical hybrid with his stunning 1990 release, The New York Chorinhos. Featuring noted Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo and David on the piano, he took the classical Brazilian Chorinho form and updated it by blending Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz and classical harmonies. In 1992, he advanced this concept one step further with The Tangos & Dances, a darker and more passionate interpretation of Latin American music. Four years later, David composed The Fantasies for solo piano, a tour de force demonstrating the full potential of the piano as an expressive instrument. The work borrows from the best in Latin music while finding inspiration in the grand tradition of the classical Fantasia form.
In 1997, David composed Three Psalms for String Orchestra, three compositions based upon Psalms 1, 2 & 3 as reflections on inner spirituality in the modern world. He followed this orchestral work with the Oratorio The Agnostic, a synthesis of existential philosophies of the last century into a powerful hymn for modern-day man. In 2001, David recorded Psalms 4, 5 & 6: Remembrance for the Victims of the Modern Holocausts for orchestra, cello, and clarinet soloists. Here, he further explored the relationship between spiritual depravity, oppression, and injustice in our world. In 2002, he composed another oratorio Power & Innocence. This powerful, dark piece, which explores the travesty of child exploitation in the modern world, is scored for full orchestra, choir, boys' choir, soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone soloists.
Just a few days shy of his forty-sixth birthday, David underwent heart surgery. After awakening from the operation, he began thinking about his life in music and how he wanted to change his style. Instead of composing dark, large orchestral works, he decided to utilize the music and rhythms that were closest to him. “We are a nation of rhythms and our orchestral music should reflect this,” he stated. Thereafter, his serious works mix classical, Latin, jazz, hip-hop, and funk into an orchestral style that he calls “urban.”
The urban compositions include several concertos for different solo instruments. Among these are concertos for guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, violin (the flute and the violin concertos appear on his critically-acclaimed Area 31 disc), and The Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, a Grammy-nominated virtuosic work. 2011 saw the release of two new albums, Urbanicity and String Theory, both refining Davids style of aggressive and complex rhythmic orchestral compositions.
David has also composed five ballets: The Central Park Dances, Urbanicity, The New York Variations, all wild reflections of modern life in a large, fast city. In 2008 the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater commissioned David to compose Hope. Davids full-length children’s ballet The Zephrytine will be premiered June 2012 at the Guimares festival in Portugal. This latter work represents David’s commitment to fostering musical appreciation in children.
In December 2007, The Mice War, David’s opera for children, premiered in New York and in 2009 it was translated into Chinese and had a sold out engagement in the National Theater in Taiwan and was filmed in early 2011 for DVD release. David has composed two adult comic operas. The Pig, The Farmer and the Artist that has gained rave reviews from around the world, and his new opera Juliet and Romeo
Foreseeing our nation's children growing up without exposure to serious music and the possibility of empty concert halls, he was inspired to create a fun way to endear classical music to a young audience. The result is Classical Cats™, a children's introduction to the orchestra, which was followed by the book The Snowbears of Lake Louise™.
David Chesky draws inspiration and influence from a variety of musical, artistic, and social sources from around the world. He then encompasses and recasts it all with a skill and veracity that affects every listener fortunate enough to hear his music.
Mr. Chesky resides in New York City with his wife, the Brazilian actress Patricia Dinely and their children Paloma and Lucca.
Born in Miami in 1956, David Chesky moved to New York in 1974. Four years later, he officially began his career in music as the composer, arranger and pianist of his own jazz big band. With that ensemble, David performed at every major jazz club and festival (including Storyville, The Village Vanguard, The Newport, JVC, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. In 1978, the Columbia label released his album Rush Hour.
However, David did not limit himself to jazz composition, but he continually studied classical techniques and immersed himself in composing, arranging and orchestrating in both jazz and classical styles. His efforts were first displayed in 1984 when he composed Central Park Morning for the Empire Brass Quintet and Orchestra.
While he was developing as a composer, he was concerned that many recordings were being released in sound that was inferior to what late 20th century recording technology could produce. Thus, in 1986, with his brother Norman, David co-founded Chesky Records. This Grammy-winning label has released numerous classical, jazz and world titles. Their company is known throughout the world as being one of the leaders in the advancement of technological research on recording methods, creating new, advanced recording techniques, in order to make the finest musical recordings currently available. David personally has pioneered and is responsible for the creation of the world's first 128x oversampled recordings, the world's first 96kHz/24bit recordings, and the world's first 6.0 multichannel 96/24 DVD-Audio Discs. In addition to recording, David has designed the acoustic architecture for many audio products. David acts as producer and artistic director on all Chesky Records and has produced over 500 albums of some of the worlds most accomplished artists. Undoubtedly, Chesky Records is one of the preeminent audiophile record labels in the world. David's quest for high quality sound reproduction has not stopped, he recently created the first company of its kind, HDtracks.com. HDtracks is the only music download service on the web that can deliver CD and DVD audio quality music files with complete liner notes, another first in music technology!
In 1987, he released his first jazz quintet recording Club de Sol, which was an unequivocal success, garnering critical raves from the jazz community. Following this release, David pushed forward the possibilities of jazz/classical hybrid with his stunning 1990 release, The New York Chorinhos. Featuring noted Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo and David on the piano, he took the classical Brazilian Chorinho form and updated it by blending Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz and classical harmonies. In 1992, he advanced this concept one step further with The Tangos & Dances, a darker and more passionate interpretation of Latin American music. Four years later, David composed The Fantasies for solo piano, a tour de force demonstrating the full potential of the piano as an expressive instrument. The work borrows from the best in Latin music while finding inspiration in the grand tradition of the classical Fantasia form.
In 1997, David composed Three Psalms for String Orchestra, three compositions based upon Psalms 1, 2 & 3 as reflections on inner spirituality in the modern world. He followed this orchestral work with the Oratorio The Agnostic, a synthesis of existential philosophies of the last century into a powerful hymn for modern-day man. In 2001, David recorded Psalms 4, 5 & 6: Remembrance for the Victims of the Modern Holocausts for orchestra, cello, and clarinet soloists. Here, he further explored the relationship between spiritual depravity, oppression, and injustice in our world. In 2002, he composed another oratorio Power & Innocence. This powerful, dark piece, which explores the travesty of child exploitation in the modern world, is scored for full orchestra, choir, boys' choir, soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone soloists.
Just a few days shy of his forty-sixth birthday, David underwent heart surgery. After awakening from the operation, he began thinking about his life in music and how he wanted to change his style. Instead of composing dark, large orchestral works, he decided to utilize the music and rhythms that were closest to him. “We are a nation of rhythms and our orchestral music should reflect this,” he stated. Thereafter, his serious works mix classical, Latin, jazz, hip-hop, and funk into an orchestral style that he calls “urban.”
The urban compositions include several concertos for different solo instruments. Among these are concertos for guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, violin (the flute and the violin concertos appear on his critically-acclaimed Area 31 disc), and The Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, a Grammy-nominated virtuosic work. 2011 saw the release of two new albums, Urbanicity and String Theory, both refining Davids style of aggressive and complex rhythmic orchestral compositions.
David has also composed five ballets: The Central Park Dances, Urbanicity, The New York Variations, all wild reflections of modern life in a large, fast city. In 2008 the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater commissioned David to compose Hope. Davids full-length children’s ballet The Zephrytine will be premiered June 2012 at the Guimares festival in Portugal. This latter work represents David’s commitment to fostering musical appreciation in children.
In December 2007, The Mice War, David’s opera for children, premiered in New York and in 2009 it was translated into Chinese and had a sold out engagement in the National Theater in Taiwan and was filmed in early 2011 for DVD release. David has composed two adult comic operas. The Pig, The Farmer and the Artist that has gained rave reviews from around the world, and his new opera Juliet and Romeo
Foreseeing our nation's children growing up without exposure to serious music and the possibility of empty concert halls, he was inspired to create a fun way to endear classical music to a young audience. The result is Classical Cats™, a children's introduction to the orchestra, which was followed by the book The Snowbears of Lake Louise™.
David Chesky draws inspiration and influence from a variety of musical, artistic, and social sources from around the world. He then encompasses and recasts it all with a skill and veracity that affects every listener fortunate enough to hear his music.
Mr. Chesky resides in New York City with his wife, the Brazilian actress Patricia Dinely and their children Paloma and Lucca.
Copyright 2011 © David Chesky
All rights reserved
All rights reserved
