David Samuel Pike (March 23, 1938 – October 3, 2015) was an American jazz

vibraphone The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist ...

and

marimba The marimba () is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the timbre ...

player. He appeared on many albums by

Nick Brignola Nicholas Thomas "Nick" Brignola (July 17, 1936 – February 8, 2002) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. Biography Brignola was born on July 17, 1936 in Troy, New York. He was born into a musical family in which his father played the tu ...

Paul Bley Paul Bley, CM (November 10, 1932 – January 3, 2016) was a jazz pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing and his early live performance on the Moog and ...

and

Kenny Clarke Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914January 26, 1985), nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride cymbal to keep time rather than the hi-ha ...

, Bill Evans, and

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inclu ...

. He also recorded extensively as leader, including a number of albums on

MPS Records MPS Records was a German jazz record company and label founded in 1968 by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" (Music Production Black Forest). History Originally based in Villingen, MPS was founded as the su ...

Biography

He learned drums at the age of eight and was self-taught on vibraphone. Pike made his recording debut with the

Quartet in 1958. He began putting an amplifier on his vibes, when working with flautist

in the early-1960s. By the late-1960s, Pike's music became more exploratory, contributing a unique voice and new contexts that pushed the envelope in times remembered for their exploratory nature. ''The Doors of Perception'', released in 1970 for the Atlantic Records subsidiary

Vortex Records Vortex Records was a jazz subsidiary of Atlantic Records that released 14 albums between 1968 and 1970, including the debut albums by Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and Sonny Sharrock Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock (August 27, 1940 – May 25, ...

, and produced by former boss Herbie Mann, explored

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or '' ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, modal territory, musique concrète, with free and lyrical improvisation, and included musicians including alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, bassist

Chuck Israels Charles H. Israels (born August 10, 1936) is an American jazz composer, arranger, and bassist who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. He has also worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hanco ...

and pianist Don Friedman. Pike moved to Europe and signed with

. With the collaboration of

Volker Kriegel Volker Kriegel (24 December 1943 – 15 June 2003) was a German jazz guitarist and composer who also an author and drew cartoons. He was a founding member of the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble. Biography Kriegel was born in Darmstadt on 24 Decem ...

(guitar), J. A. Rettenbacher (acoustic and electric bass), and Peter Baumeister (drums), he formed the Dave Pike Set. The group recorded six records from 1969-1972 that ran the gamut from funky grooves to free, textural territory. The group, though short-lived, created a unique identity and textural palette. Kriegel's compositional and instrumental (playing acoustic, classical, and electric guitar as well as sitar) contributions to the group helped set the Dave Pike Set's sound apart, organically incorporating influences from jazz, soul jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde music, and world music. He died in

Del Mar, California Del Mar (; Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach town in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the ...

of emphysema, aged 77.

Discography

As leader

* ''

It's Time for Dave Pike ''It's Time for Dave Pike'' is the debut album led by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1961 for the Riverside Records, Riverside label.Pike's Peak Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The ultra-prominent fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The town of Manitou Sprin ...

'' (Epic, 1962) – recorded in 1961 * '' Bossa Nova Carnival'' (New Jazz, 1962) * ''

Limbo Carnival ''Limbo Carnival'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1962 for the New Jazz label.Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver!'' (Moodsville, 1963) – recorded in 1962 * '' Manhattan Latin'' (Decca, 1964) * '' Jazz for the Jet Set'' (Atlantic, 1966) – recorded in 1965 * ''Got the Feelin'' (Relax, 1969) * ''Four Reasons'' (MPS, 1969) * ''Noisy Silence/Gentle Noise'' (MPS, 1969) * ''Live at the Philharmonie'' (MPS, 1970) * ''Infra-Red'' (MPS, 1970) * ''

The Doors of Perception ''The Doors of Perception'' is an autobiographical book written by Aldous Huxley. Published in 1954, it elaborates on his psychedelic experience under the influence of mescaline in May 1953. Huxley recalls the insights he experienced, ranging ...

'' (Vortex, 1970) – live recorded in 1966 * ''Album'' (MPS/BASF, 1971) * ''Salomao'' (MPS/BASF, 1972) * ''Times Out of Mind'' (Muse, 1976) * ''On a Gentle Note'' (Muse, 1978) * ''Let the Minstrels Play On'' (Muse, 1980) * ''Moon Bird'' (Muse, 1983) * '' Pike's Groove'' (Criss Cross, 1986) * ''Bluebird'' (Timeless, 1989) * ''Bophead'' (Ubiquity, 1998) * ''Peligroso'' (CuBop, 2000) * ''At Studio 2'' (B.Free, 2016)

As sideman

With

* '' Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues'' (United Artists, 1962) * '' Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate'' (Atlantic, 1963) * ''

Herbie Mann Live at Newport ''Herbie Mann Live at Newport'' is a live album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1963 for the Atlantic label.

'' (Atlantic, 1963) – live * '' My Kinda Groove'' (Atlantic, 1965) – recorded in 1964 * '' Latin Mann'' ( Columbia, 1965) * '' Standing Ovation at Newport'' (Atlantic, 1965) – live * ''The Roar of the Greasepaint the Smell of the Crowd'' (Atlantic, 1965) * '' Monday Night at the Village Gate'' (Atlantic, 1966) – recorded in 1965 * '' Today!'' (Atlantic, 1966) – recorded in 1965 * ''The Evolution of Mann'' (Atlantic, 1972) LP– compilations With others *

, ''Solemn Meditation'' (GNP, 1957) *

, ''All Business'' (Reservoir, 1999) *

Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...

, ''All Smiles'' (MPS, 1968) * Slide Hampton, ''Mellow-dy'' (LRC, 1992) *

The Jazz Couriers The Jazz Couriers were a British jazz quintet formed in April 1957 and which disbanded in August 1959. The quintet's first line-up consisted of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor saxophones,Babatunde Olatunji Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist. Early life Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nige ...

, ''High Life!'' (Columbia, 1963) * Clark Terry, ''At the Montreux Jazz Festival'' (Polydor, 1970)

References

External links

Obituary
''Los Angeles Times''
Interview with Dave Pike
National Association of Music Merchants Oral History Program (2007) {{DEFAULTSORT:Pike, Dave 1938 births 2015 deaths American jazz vibraphonists American marimbists Musicians from Detroit Ubiquity Records artists Muse Records artists Riverside Records artists Jazz musicians from Michigan Criss Cross Jazz artists