David Newton (pianist)


David Newton is a Scottish jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator.

Early life

Newton was born in Glasgow on 2 February 1958. He "played clarinet, bassoon and piano before specializing on piano at the Leeds School of Music".

Later life and career

Newton had a trio in Bradford in 1978 and worked in a theatre in Scarborough. He returned to Scotland in the early 1980s. He "established a considerable reputation as an accompanist to visiting American musicians before he launched his own solo career". In 1986, he made his recording debut, with Buddy DeFranco. He moved to London the following year, "worked with Alan Barnes, then toured with Martin Taylor's Quartet from 1989 to 1991." He was vocalist Carol Kidd's musical director in the 1990s. He also accompanied several other singers.
Newton recorded three albums as a leader for Linn Records in the early 1990s: the trio records Eyewitness and Victim of Circumstance, and the solo piano Return Journey. He then moved to Candid Records and recorded another trio album, In Good Company, for them in 1994. He had a solo piano tour the following year and toured with Bud Shank. In addition to leading his own bands of various sizes, he has also done a lot of freelance playing. In the early to mid-2000s, he also recorded for Bright New Day, including one album with an orchestra.
Newton became a fellow of Leeds College of Music in 2003, where he is a principal lecturer in jazz piano. He was voted best Jazz Pianist in the British Jazz awards for the thirteenth time in 2014.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Claire Martin and Ray Gelato
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