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Artist
Dave Cliff
12+ albums
jazzguitarbebopjazz guitarEuropean Jazz
about
Dave Cliff (born 25 June 1944) is a British jazz guitarist. David John “Dave” Cliff was born in Hexham, Northumberland. He began his career playing rhythm and blues in the Newcastle area. In 1967, he moved to Leeds and gained a diploma in jazz studies from Leeds College of Music while studying with bassist Peter Ind and Bernie Cash. In 1971, after moving to London Cliff became established on the local scene. During 1976-1977 he toured Holland, Denmark, Italy and the UK with the Lee Konitz - Warne Marsh Quintet. The following year Cliff toured the UK with Soprano Summit (Kenny Davern and Bob Wilber). He worked increasingly as a freelance from the 1980s on. His first album under his own name, The Right Time, was recorded in 1987. It featured Geoff Simkins on alto, and was the first of a number of albums with Simkins, with whom Cliff has collaborated extensively. Cliff has appeared frequently at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in varied settings including Georgie Fame's Blue Flames, Mike Carr Trio, Irene Reid, the Dick Pearce Sextet and the Bruce Adams Quartet. He has worked extensively with visiting American musicians, including Slide Hampton, Nina Simone, Kenny Davern, George Masso, Spike Robinson, Herb Geller, Lanny Morgan, Harry Allen, Buddy Childers, Lew Tabackin, Mundell Lowe, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jack McDuff, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Richie Cole, and Ken Peplowski. In 1998 Cliff won the BT Jazz Awards in the guitar category. http://www.davecliff.com/ User-contributed text is avail
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# Dave Cliff: British Jazz Guitarist This musician's work merits attention for bridging accessible swing traditions with serious harmonic exploration. Trained rigorously at Leeds College of Music under Peter Ind, Cliff developed a guitar voice rooted in bebop vocabulary yet marked by restraint and clarity—qualities often overlooked in favor of flashier playing. His touring with Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh, two saxophonists known for intellectual curiosity and melodic invention, shaped his approach to conversational ensemble playing. What distinguishes Cliff is his ability to function as a skilled accompanist while maintaining genuine musical agency, a balance many guitarists struggle to achieve. His career trajectory through Britain's jazz
