Dave Shepherd

Who is Dave Shepherd?

David Joseph "Dave" Shepherd is an English jazz clarinetist born in London.

Shepherd began on piano before switching to clarinet at age 16. He studied under a clarinetist from the Hamburg State Opera Orchestra while stationed in Hamburg after World War II. Upon his return to England he played with Reg Rigden, Joe Daniels, and Freddy Randall. He played with Billie Holiday and Gerry Mulligan on their tours of Britain. He played in New York City in 1956 with Ted Kotick, then returned to England to play with Jazz Today Unit and with the Jazz at the Philharmonic. He also played with Mary Lou Williams several times in the 1950s.

In the 1960s and '70s he played with Randall again and with Teddy Wilson, as well as at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973 and in South Africa in 1975. He played in the Pizza Express All Star Jazz Band from 1980 to 1999. He led several of his own bands, and has done extensive work producing music for film and television.