DAVE LALAMA
Genres: Progressive Big Band, Post Bop • United States

Pianist Dave Lalama is living proof that the divide between real-world practitioner and first-class educator is often imaginary. Lalama's résumé includes time spent with super singers like Eddie Jefferson and Anita O'Day, and big band icons like Road Father Woody Herman and super drummer Buddy Rich, but these performance credits don't tell the whole story about this artist-cum-teacher. From the early '80s onward, he was passing on his knowledge to the next generation through his work at institutions like New York University and the Manhattan School of Music, but he also ventured out of the city and set up shop due east, at Long Island's Hofstra University. Lalama has been a staple of the music program at that well-regarded institution for more than a quarter century, during which time he's forged a deep and lasting connection with numerous students, colleagues and guest artists; many of these very individuals show their read more...