Dave Eshelman
Dave Eshelman Composer, arranger, trombonist, educator and leader Dave Eshelman's teaching career spanned thirty five years at Los Angeles City College, San Jose City College and Cal State University East Bay at Hayward. He was named CSUH Outstanding Professor, honored with the Swain University Educator Award by the California Music Educators Association, awarded the San Jose Jazz Society's Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted into the CAJ Hall of Fame.
Currently Dave is performing guest artist concerts, directing honor bands, writing commissions, judging and visiting schools for rehearsals and clinics. He directs the Jazzschool Studio Band at the California Jazz Conservatory and teaches jazz courses each summer at the Hayward La Honda Music Camp.
Under his direction each of Cal State's big bands won many accolades. He led the collegiate Jazz Ensemble on four European concert tours (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) as well as one tour to Brazil (2001). In nationwide competitions, the band earned a performance at the International Association of Jazz Education International Conference three times (1995, 1999, 2005). The bands three cd projects were selected as outstanding collegiate jazz recordings in the IAJE Journal. He has conducted the California CMEA All State Jazz Band, the Northern California Grammy In The Schools All Star Big Band, the NorCal Honor Jazz Band and numerous district and county honor jazz bands.
He has recorded and five albums as leader-composer of the Jazz Garden Big Band and five jazz albums in association with Ray Brown. His quartet CD features John Abercrombie, guitar; John Patitucci, bass and Peter Erskine, drums. Dave was commissioned by the San Jose Jazz Society to compose, record, and perform Suite For Jazz Orchestra with his big band at the San Jose Jazz Festival. He has written, conducted and recorded three CD projects for Philippe Kahn featuring many jazz greats. Dave's compositions and arrangements have been recorded and performed the Don Ellis Orchestra, the BBC Big Band, the Airmen of Note and by bands throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Dave’s cds compositions and arrangements are available online.