Album Notes

Pianist David Arnay, born in New York City, spent his formative professional years in Ithaca, New York, where his keyboard work was an essential element of many eclectic original musical projects, including a lengthy collaboration with influential guitarist David Torn. After moving to Los Angeles, Arnay was recruited in 1994 by jazz woodwind legend Bennie Maupin for his new quintet. The group thrived for several years, performing Arnay's compositions along with Maupin's. In 1997, Arnay released "Daddy's Groove," his first CD as a leader. The disc, available on CD Baby, showcased twelve original compositions and featured stellar rhythm players Peter Erskine on drums, bassists Alphonso Johnson and Dave Carpenter, with woodwind performances by Maupin and Bob Sheppard.

Arnay performs constantly in L.A. - as a soloist, leader of his own jazz group, or as sideman with guitarist Phil Upchurch, reedman Maupin, and others. He performed all keyboard tracks on the 2001 Upchurch CD "Tell the Truth," which earned three stars in Downbeat. He serves on the music faculty at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where his colleagues include jazz masters John Clayton, Ndugu Chancler, Shelly Berg, and Alan Pasqua.

"Blues... And Then Some" is new from the David Arnay Trio in 2003. The trio, featuring drummer Dave Tull and bassist Larry Steen, performs eight new Arnay compositions as well as innovative arrangements of "In A Sentimental Mood," "Isfahan," and "Have You Met Miss Jones." The tracks are playful and deep, ranging from straight-ahead bop to funky acid jazz. The recording was mastered by Erick Labson, whose credits include the digital reissue of Coltrane's A Love Supreme.

The music is exciting, energetic and accessible, clearly rooted in the jazz mainstream while charged with eclectic influences. A featured performer at the Pori (Finland) Jazz Festival 2000-2002, Arnay is especially interested in reaching the appreciative international jazz audience. "The language of jazz is inclusive. I belong to a generation of players who value the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix as highly as we do Miles Davis and Art Tatum. I know on whose shoulders I stand, as do the listeners who enjoy my music."

Contact: David Arnay / Studio N Music
202 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105 www.DavidArnay.com