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David Shapiro

1952 – 2011

American musician

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About David Shapiro

Lived 1952 – 2011 (aged 58). David Shapiro was an American music educator, jazz musician and bass player.

David "Dave" Shapiro (April 24, 1952 – February 16, 2011) was an American jazz double bassist.

Life Born and raised in Brooklyn, David Shapiro graduated from Brooklyn College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He became a busy New York freelancer, playing regularly with such jazz legends as Woody Herman, Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Howard McGhee, Mel Lewis and singers Ray Charles, Anita O'Day, and Chris Connor. He performed with Jackie Cain and Roy Kral in the Newport Jazz Festival in Carnegie Hall. He proved his versatility as a member of the house band at Eddie Condon's and the Metropolitan Bopera House.

In 1987 Shapiro moved to Townshend, Vermont, where he taught and played with various musicians of the jazz scene in Vermont and Western Massachusetts, as Attila Zoller, Howard Brofsky, Scott Mullett, Paul Arslanian, Bob Weiner, Jay Messer, Eugene Uman, Draa Hobbs, Claire Arenius, and Tom McClung. With trumpet player Steve Sonntag he led a trio, which became later a sextet. In 1997 they recorded the live album Monk, Duke & Mingus Shapiro also played in recording sessions with Woody Herman (World Class, 1982), Danny D'Imperio (Blues For Philly Joe, 1991), Joshua Breakstone (Evening Star, 1988), Howard Brofsky (73 Down, 2000), and Michael Musillami (Perception, 2000).

Shapiro taught math and jazz history at Westfield State College and at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts. He instituted his own educational programs and conducted jazz ensembles. He also taught Jazz History at the Vermont Jazz Center and conducted the "piano trio" ensembles at the VJC's Summer Jazz Workshop.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Brooklyn College

People in David Shapiro's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped David Shapiro's

Frequently asked questions

Who was David Shapiro?

American musician (1952-2011)

When was David Shapiro born?

David Shapiro was born on 24 April 1952 in Brooklyn.

When did David Shapiro die?

David Shapiro died on 16 February 2011 in Townshend.

What was David Shapiro's occupation?

David Shapiro was a music educator, jazz musician and bass player.

What nationality was David Shapiro?

David Shapiro was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: David Shapiro

· Wikidata: Q1176620

· DBpedia: David Shapiro (bass player)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). David Shapiro. https://biography.guide/david-shapiro-music-educator/

MLA: "David Shapiro." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/david-shapiro-music-educator/.

Chicago: "David Shapiro." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/david-shapiro-music-educator/.

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