David MacAulay Eyges (born November 6, 1950) is an American jazz cellist, composer, and record producer.
Early life
Eyges was born in San Francisco on November 6, 1950.Arwulf Arwul "David Eyges" AllMusic. His family settled in
Belmont, Massachusetts
Belmont is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It is a western suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, United States; and is part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. At the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, the town's population stood at 27,295 ...
, in 1953. He began playing the piano aged five and had cello lessons from age 11. In 1968–69 he studied at
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with its original campu ...
, and he was awarded a BA for cello studies by the
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...
in 1972. Encounters with blues musicians in
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, ...
, were an important influence, as Eyges sought to transfer elements of their music to the cello.
Later life and career
"Eyges worked for a few years in various concert orchestras and theater ensembles, sometimes earning fees providing background music for commercials." His recording career began in 1974, with vibraphonist Bobby Paunetto. Eyges's debut album as leader – ''The Captain'' – came three years later. He married in 1976 and a son was born in 1984.
From 1987 Eyges specialized in playing a Tucker F. Barrett solid-body
electric cello
The electric cello is a type of cello that relies on electronic amplification (rather than acoustic resonance) to produce sound. An acoustic cello can be fitted with a bridge or body mounted contact pickup providing an electric signal, or a built-i ...
. He commented that, in addition to being able to produce a variety of colours from the instrument, it had two advantages over an acoustic cello: "volume, because playing an acoustic instrument with a fierce drummer just doesn't make it; and transportability, since I can safely put it in the baggage compartments of planes and trains."Shoemaker, Bill (April 1, 1998 "David Eyges" ''JazzTimes''.
Eyges's playing influenced later generations of creative cellists, who appeared from the 1990s. He formed MidLantic Records in 2002 and produced albums for the label, as well as continuing to play.
Playing style
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles (born October 25, 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.Pareles, Jon (August 28, 1983 "Jazz: David Eyges" ''The New York Times''. When plucking, his trio ( James Emery on guitar and
Sunny Murray
James Marcellus Arthur "Sunny" Murray (September 21, 1936 – December 7, 2017) was an American musician, and was one of the pioneers of the free jazz style of drumming.
Biography
Murray was born in Idabel, Oklahoma, where he was raised by an ...
on drums) was bluesy and "Eyges treated his cello as a percussive instrument". When bowing, "the pieces called for long-breathed melodies".