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A talented vibraphonist and marimba player, Dave Samuels gained his greatest fame for his many years with <a href="spotify:artist:1Be36RHAlqJpfUt3tsmUQD">Spyro Gyra</a>. He started on his first instrument, the drums, when he was six, but by the time he attended Boston University (he graduated with a psychology degree), he was studying mallet instruments. Samuels attended the Berklee School of Music, where one of his teachers was <a href="spotify:artist:4iovNkf44dsELmo3E7XSKX">Gary Burton</a>, and he soon became an educator himself. Samuels had the opportunity to work with <a href="spotify:artist:3t58jfUhoMLYVO14XaUFLA">Pat Metheny</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:14RXohtx6NiBGFTW8IdmAK">John Scofield</a> while in Boston, and then, in 1974, he toured and recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:6l40OFJhuTbHQ9V12evc9K">Gerry Mulligan</a>. Other early experiences included working with the group Timepiece, <a href="spotify:artist:6ra4GIOgCZQZMOaUECftGN">Frank Zappa</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5wtltLJ74Vfh3bnC4AkPWv">Double Image</a>, where he interacted with fellow vibraphonist <a href="spotify:artist:14MjR2Ht5rXoMPixAw5cpC">Don Friedman</a> from 1977 to 1980. Samuels began his association with <a href="spotify:artist:1Be36RHAlqJpfUt3tsmUQD">Spyro Gyra</a> in 1979 by guesting on their recordings; finally, in 1986, he became a member whose solos jazz critics went out of their way to praise. He released his own records, which tended to be commercial, for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22MCA%22">MCA</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22GRP%22">GRP</a>. After leaving <a href="spotify:artist:1Be36RHAlqJpfUt3tsmUQD">Spyro Gyra</a> in the mid-'90s, Samuels did some impressive work with <a href="spotify:artist:0H895uoamTDU0A9OH73CMT">the Caribbean Jazz Project</a>. Sticking mostly to marimba with the band (which he co-led with steel drummer Andy Narrell and altoist/clarinetist <a href="spotify:artist:30Mx3ZadPgGZTcs38FvYP8">Paquito D'Rivera</a>), Samuels was at his best during their very likable concerts. After a long-term illness, he died in 2019. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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