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DAVE HASKELL GROUP W

ith the 2013 release of mightily praised album Pivot Point, San Francisco Bay area guitarist Dave Haskell steps into the limelight with his fusion drenched music. The album presents eight new tunes composed by Haskell. A track by his long time friend Robben Ford and Herbie Hancock’s classic “Eye of the Hurricane” further elevate the delightful material. The new album and Haskell’s live shows offer the listener striking compositions with peerless improvisation. The Dave Haskell Groups offers glowing musical sets with varied sonic textures on electric and acoustic settings. Sea of Tranquility’s Pete Pardo gives Haskell 4 ½ stars saying the guitarist “has a great tone and impeccable technique, as he melds jazz with blues and rock to great effect.”

Produced by renowned bassist and producer Jimmy Haslip, Pivot Point features Dan Zemelman on piano and keys, Aaron Germain on bass and Alan Hall on drums. Guest artists include founding Yellowjackets members: Robben Ford, guitar; Russell Ferrante, piano and synthesizer and Haslip on bass. Toss Panos guests on drums. Dave Haskell fronts a stellar touring band. Piano and keyboardist Steve Carter is a prominent sideman in the Bay Area Latin-Jazz scene (Pete Escovedo, Sheila E.). He has also worked with George Benson, Don Cherry and Taj Mahal. Drummer Alan Hall has backed such masters as Eddie Harris, Art Lande, and Kenny Werner. San Francisco born Dave Haskell grew up in Ukiah, California. There the Ford Brothers introduced him to the Chicago Blues, but mainstream jazz and rock and roll also shaped his sophisticated sound. He became known for his work with Native American tenor saxophonist Jim Pepper, Mike Nock, Russell Ferrante, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Randy Crawford, Merl Saunders, Gregg Karukas and Gary Willis. Haskell has performed at prestigious venues all over the U.S. He has appeared often as sideman and bandleader at the American Music Hall, the Bay Area Keystone venues, and at clubs and festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Touring heavily with Randy Crawford opening for the Crusaders, he played the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York and Opryland in Tennessee.

“Pivot Point was selected one of the ten best jazz fusion records for the first half of 2013.” – S. Victor Aaron, Something Else! Reviews

“Dave Haskell Group’s Pivot Point is terrific and Haskell is an enormously lyrical and mood drenched player. . . a hugely seductive album.” – Marc Myers, Jazz Wax

“Haskell's clean, angular playing is executed with surgical precision and fluid tone rarely heard today.” – Brent Black, CriticalJazz.com

“Now that he’s hung up his wings, Haskell is once again making waves on the Bay Area music scene, working with a first-rate combo.” – L. Pierce Carson, Napa Valley Register

Dave Haskell has already accomplished more in one lifetime than most men dream of. After distinguishing himself as a jazz and blues guitarist, he took to the skies as an airline pilot for two decades. Retirement from that career allowed him to go back into music full throttle with amazing results. Those who didn’t have the opportunity to hear him the first time around, can count themselves lucky for a second chance.

BOOKING CONTACT: DAVE HASKELL [email protected] davehaskelljazz.com