Dave Goldberg
@davegoldbergjazz.bsky.social
I’m a professional jazz saxophone player based in Los Angeles. You can check out my music on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or www.davegoldberg.com
Pinned
Happy to announce my latest album is now available on all streaming platforms. Hope you enjoy.
Tune of the day…Billy Bauer - Night Cruise. Often cited as a very pianistic guitarist, it’s Bauer’s sustain that keeps his tone quality even, actually sounding more like a horn player. His sound doesn’t seem to have the natural decay of most guitar players at the time. #jazzsky youtu.be/A9lvQWjxlzc
Night Cruise
YouTube video by Billy Bauer - Topic
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Tune of the day…Billy Bauer - Night Cruise. Often cited as a very pianistic guitarist, it’s Bauer’s sustain that keeps his tone quality even, actually sounding more like a horn player. His sound doesn’t seem to have the natural decay of most guitar players at the time. #jazzsky youtu.be/A9lvQWjxlzc
Tune of the day…John Patitucci - Sonrisa. Surprisingly not the Herbie Hancock tune with the same name. Patitucci’s tune purposely or not pays some homage to Sonny Rollins’ sax trio and love affair with Caribbean music. And Chris Potter is the right guy for the job. #jazzsky youtu.be/yxxMb1NzOcg
Sonrisa
YouTube video by John Patitucci - Topic
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Tune of the day…John Patitucci - Sonrisa. Surprisingly not the Herbie Hancock tune with the same name. Patitucci’s tune purposely or not pays some homage to Sonny Rollins’ sax trio and love affair with Caribbean music. And Chris Potter is the right guy for the job. #jazzsky youtu.be/yxxMb1NzOcg
Tune of the day…Cecil Taylor - Port of Call. Having some kind of structure to cage in the beast of Cecil Taylor’s explosiveness, allows you to appreciate his concept even more, as he smashes against the walls of confinement with reckless abandon. This tune does it well. #jazzsky youtu.be/QcxgQEuZtFw
Port Of Call (Remastered)
YouTube video by Cecil Taylor - Topic
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Tune of the day…Cecil Taylor - Port of Call. Having some kind of structure to cage in the beast of Cecil Taylor’s explosiveness, allows you to appreciate his concept even more, as he smashes against the walls of confinement with reckless abandon. This tune does it well. #jazzsky youtu.be/QcxgQEuZtFw
Self Promotion Sunday - Kilgore Trout. Named after a recurring character in Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, this original of Duane Allen’s is very melodic. I like that we start with the bass solo, hand it off to guitar, end with saxophone. Solo order can be compositional too. #jazzsky youtu.be/7J9coE8ncX8
Kilgore Trout
YouTube video by The Dave Goldberg/ Duane Allen Quartet - Topic
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Self Promotion Sunday - Kilgore Trout. Named after a recurring character in Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, this original of Duane Allen’s is very melodic. I like that we start with the bass solo, hand it off to guitar, end with saxophone. Solo order can be compositional too. #jazzsky youtu.be/7J9coE8ncX8
Tune of the day…Barney Bigard - Rose Room. This concert celebrated all the poll winners in 1944 to raise $ for war bonds. Here Bigard is paired with Art Tatum , who seems to inspire Bigard to play even faster runs. His solo crescendos into a duo with drummer Sid Catlet. #jazzsky youtu.be/XEfASLdaBgM
Rose Room
YouTube video by Barney Bigard - Topic
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Tune of the day…Barney Bigard - Rose Room. This concert celebrated all the poll winners in 1944 to raise $ for war bonds. Here Bigard is paired with Art Tatum , who seems to inspire Bigard to play even faster runs. His solo crescendos into a duo with drummer Sid Catlet. #jazzsky youtu.be/XEfASLdaBgM
Tune of the day…Donny McCaslin - Stadium Jazz. The blending of electronica & jazz is just another kind of fusion that started to burst on the scene in the 2010’s. What’s interesting about this track, it’s mostly acoustic instruments emulating electronica patterns. #jazzsky youtu.be/1ztAUZq-qss
Donny McCaslin - Stadium Jazz
YouTube video by Alejo Torres
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Tune of the day…Donny McCaslin - Stadium Jazz. The blending of electronica & jazz is just another kind of fusion that started to burst on the scene in the 2010’s. What’s interesting about this track, it’s mostly acoustic instruments emulating electronica patterns. #jazzsky youtu.be/1ztAUZq-qss
Tune of the day…Duke Jordan - Starbright. Often for ballads guys would just record a standard rather than compose their own, but Duke loved Dizzy Reece’s tone on a ballad so he wrote this one. Notice how the repetitive old school comping actually brings out the melody. #jazzsky youtu.be/7qDl2ukcA1w
Starbrite (Remastered 2007/Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
YouTube video by Duke Jordan - Topic
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Tune of the day…Duke Jordan - Starbright. Often for ballads guys would just record a standard rather than compose their own, but Duke loved Dizzy Reece’s tone on a ballad so he wrote this one. Notice how the repetitive old school comping actually brings out the melody. #jazzsky youtu.be/7qDl2ukcA1w
Tune of the day…Gigi Gryce - Minority. This tune is popular because it has so much packed into just 16 bars. The 1st half a minor tonality so it’s bluesy. The 2nd half descending key centers which really appealed to bop players. The melody is easily learned & singable. #jazzsky youtu.be/7inR9edrBc0
Minority
YouTube video by Gigi Gryce - Topic
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Tune of the day…Gigi Gryce - Minority. This tune is popular because it has so much packed into just 16 bars. The 1st half a minor tonality so it’s bluesy. The 2nd half descending key centers which really appealed to bop players. The melody is easily learned & singable. #jazzsky youtu.be/7inR9edrBc0
Tune of the day…Terri Lyne Carrington - Michelle. Smart choice to start this reimagining of this Beatles classic with Gretchen Parlato singing just a taste of the lyrics to make everything familiar and allowing you appreciate the journey more. #jazzsky youtu.be/xGLYipw9RvM
Michelle
YouTube video by Terri Lyne Carrington - Topic
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Tune of the day…Terri Lyne Carrington - Michelle. Smart choice to start this reimagining of this Beatles classic with Gretchen Parlato singing just a taste of the lyrics to make everything familiar and allowing you appreciate the journey more. #jazzsky youtu.be/xGLYipw9RvM
Tune of the day… Rob McConnell - Greenhouse. This is a fun chart that features Rob blowing a nice solo on some familiar sounding changes (Limehouse Blues for those keeping score). I like allowing the guitar to comp for Rob’s solo. Great chart by Rick Wilkins. #jazzsky youtu.be/jVqmeDH9UrQ
Greenhouse
YouTube video by Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass - Topic
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Tune of the day… Rob McConnell - Greenhouse. This is a fun chart that features Rob blowing a nice solo on some familiar sounding changes (Limehouse Blues for those keeping score). I like allowing the guitar to comp for Rob’s solo. Great chart by Rick Wilkins. #jazzsky youtu.be/jVqmeDH9UrQ
Self Promotion Sunday…Roundabout. Definitely the simplest tune I’ve written, it’s just 8 bars, repeated 4 times. Kind of inspired by Capricorn recorded by Miles Davis Quintet in its relentless swinging walking baseline, the chord progression gives it a circular nature. #jazzsky youtu.be/znlVbBYJ_rA
Roundabout
YouTube video by Dave Goldberg - Topic
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Self Promotion Sunday…Roundabout. Definitely the simplest tune I’ve written, it’s just 8 bars, repeated 4 times. Kind of inspired by Capricorn recorded by Miles Davis Quintet in its relentless swinging walking baseline, the chord progression gives it a circular nature. #jazzsky youtu.be/znlVbBYJ_rA
Tune of the day…Ambrose Akinmusire - Confessions to My Unborn Daughter. After a reflective turned virtuosic trumpet intro, we get this melody in 3 handed from trumpet to tenor that builds nicely to the B section that acts more like a hook. Great interplay throughout. #jazzsky youtu.be/c4yRqmkOveg
Confessions To My Unborn Daughter
YouTube video by Ambrose Akinmusire - Topic
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Tune of the day…Ambrose Akinmusire - Confessions to My Unborn Daughter. After a reflective turned virtuosic trumpet intro, we get this melody in 3 handed from trumpet to tenor that builds nicely to the B section that acts more like a hook. Great interplay throughout. #jazzsky youtu.be/c4yRqmkOveg
Tune of the day…Russell Malone - Jingles. Russell is a force of nature on this track. As a guitarist to do a tune that Wes Montgomery cut his teeth on, and just do it faster, takes some balls. And if you do that, you better be smoking…which Russell is. #jazzsky youtu.be/uj94eKofdug
Jingles
YouTube video by Russell Malone - Topic
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Tune of the day…Russell Malone - Jingles. Russell is a force of nature on this track. As a guitarist to do a tune that Wes Montgomery cut his teeth on, and just do it faster, takes some balls. And if you do that, you better be smoking…which Russell is. #jazzsky youtu.be/uj94eKofdug
Tune of the day…Frank Foster - Janie Huk. This bluesy tune rolls out like a big band chart, with an elaborate form of 8,12,10,8, but then just soloing over the middle 2 sections (minus 2 bars), so you get this 12 bar blues alternating with an 8 bar section. Good solos! #jazzsky youtu.be/RLMAAvbugYA
Janie Huk
YouTube video by Frank Foster - Topic
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Tune of the day…Frank Foster - Janie Huk. This bluesy tune rolls out like a big band chart, with an elaborate form of 8,12,10,8, but then just soloing over the middle 2 sections (minus 2 bars), so you get this 12 bar blues alternating with an 8 bar section. Good solos! #jazzsky youtu.be/RLMAAvbugYA
Tune of the day…Quincy Jones - Quintessence. This is the recording I tell my alto students to check out to teach them how to take control of an alto sax feature on a ballad. Nobody did it better than Phil Woods, who defines lead alto playing in the modern big band. #jazxsky youtu.be/u2hqgJGVMEk
Quintessence
YouTube video by Quincy Jones - Topic
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Tune of the day…Quincy Jones - Quintessence. This is the recording I tell my alto students to check out to teach them how to take control of an alto sax feature on a ballad. Nobody did it better than Phil Woods, who defines lead alto playing in the modern big band. #jazxsky youtu.be/u2hqgJGVMEk
Tune of the day…Jelly Roll Morton - Grandpa’s Spells. If you really sit and listen to all the arranged possibilities covered in under 3 minutes of music here, you will understand the genius of Jelly Roll Morton. Tight compositional structure, but still room for jazz. #jazzsky youtu.be/07gIDMJABWA
Grandpa's Spells
YouTube video by Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers - Topic
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Tune of the day…Jelly Roll Morton - Grandpa’s Spells. If you really sit and listen to all the arranged possibilities covered in under 3 minutes of music here, you will understand the genius of Jelly Roll Morton. Tight compositional structure, but still room for jazz. #jazzsky youtu.be/07gIDMJABWA
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - Friends Forever. This nice original features his beautiful tone playing the melody as well as his virtuosic chops soloing. He really had a way of making his acoustic bass sing, without being overly amplified and losing the wood sound . #jazzsky youtu.be/nLy-oV-wxao
Friends Forever
YouTube video by Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Topic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - Friends Forever. This nice original features his beautiful tone playing the melody as well as his virtuosic chops soloing. He really had a way of making his acoustic bass sing, without being overly amplified and losing the wood sound . #jazzsky youtu.be/nLy-oV-wxao
Self Promotion Sunday…Winter Fire. This Duane Allen original is a very patient tune. It slowly smolders harmlessly before becoming more…then a little more…and finally something to be reckoned with, only to be reclaimed by the tranquility around it. #jazzsky youtu.be/-XQjWs04u2Q
Winter Fire
YouTube video by Trio Eclectic - Topic
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Self Promotion Sunday…Winter Fire. This Duane Allen original is a very patient tune. It slowly smolders harmlessly before becoming more…then a little more…and finally something to be reckoned with, only to be reclaimed by the tranquility around it. #jazzsky youtu.be/-XQjWs04u2Q
Tune of the day…Randy Bernsen - Windsong. If you like 80’s fusion, this is tune you might not know about. Randy is a fabulous guitar player, who I used to listen to and occasionally play with when I lived in South Florida. Here’s an original of his with Herbie and Jaco. #jazzsky youtu.be/QCoclQVCjC8
Windsong
YouTube video by Randy Bernsen - Topic
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Tune of the day…Randy Bernsen - Windsong. If you like 80’s fusion, this is tune you might not know about. Randy is a fabulous guitar player, who I used to listen to and occasionally play with when I lived in South Florida. Here’s an original of his with Herbie and Jaco. #jazzsky youtu.be/QCoclQVCjC8
Tune of the day…Vincent Herring - Granted. Some guys were born to be alto players. Vincent is one of those guys, and this Joe Henderson minor blues allows him to get into his fiery Alto bag along with a great swinging rhythm section. #jazzsky youtu.be/aN7W607iVhE
Granted
YouTube video by Vincent Herring - Topic
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Tune of the day…Vincent Herring - Granted. Some guys were born to be alto players. Vincent is one of those guys, and this Joe Henderson minor blues allows him to get into his fiery Alto bag along with a great swinging rhythm section. #jazzsky youtu.be/aN7W607iVhE
Tune of the day…Grachan Moncur III - Thandiwa. This tune in 3 has a Monk like quirkiness about it. It’s a simple chord progression & clear 16 bar form, yet you have Wayne, Grachan, Herbie, Cecil, and Tony really exploring all the possibilities this tune provides them. #jazzsky youtu.be/XyVZOzalAAc
Thandiwa (Remastered 2009 / Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
YouTube video by Grachan Moncur III - Topic
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Tune of the day…Grachan Moncur III - Thandiwa. This tune in 3 has a Monk like quirkiness about it. It’s a simple chord progression & clear 16 bar form, yet you have Wayne, Grachan, Herbie, Cecil, and Tony really exploring all the possibilities this tune provides them. #jazzsky youtu.be/XyVZOzalAAc
Tune of the day…Chet Baker - The Thrill is Gone. Chet’s trumpet sound was made for this tune. He keeps it simple & just allows his tone to embrace the melody. A beautiful melody doesn’t need you to do much, other than refuse to let it go, like you never want it to end. #jazzsky youtu.be/n1TAymusXqk
The Thrill Is Gone
YouTube video by Chet Baker - Topic
youtu.be
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Tune of the day…Chet Baker - The Thrill is Gone. Chet’s trumpet sound was made for this tune. He keeps it simple & just allows his tone to embrace the melody. A beautiful melody doesn’t need you to do much, other than refuse to let it go, like you never want it to end. #jazzsky youtu.be/n1TAymusXqk
Tune of the day…Pasquale Grasso - Little Willie Leaps. When Pat Metheny declares someone maybe the best guitar player he’s ever heard, that carries some weight. I will say, I don’t think any guitar player has played bebop this cleanly at this tempo before, it’s amazing. #jazzsky youtu.be/WfUCr-E6nlY
Little Willie Leaps
YouTube video by Pasquale Grasso - Topic
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Tune of the day…Pasquale Grasso - Little Willie Leaps. When Pat Metheny declares someone maybe the best guitar player he’s ever heard, that carries some weight. I will say, I don’t think any guitar player has played bebop this cleanly at this tempo before, it’s amazing. #jazzsky youtu.be/WfUCr-E6nlY
Tune of the day…Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower Sunrise/ Sunset. This 1966 live performance captures the sound of the era perfectly. The 2nd half is an example of allowing something simple to breathe long enough trusting that creativity will emerge, refusing to let go. #jazzsky youtu.be/qOGqAvElCAs
Charles Lloyd Quartet at Monterey Jazz Festival - Forest Flower, Sunrise-Sunset
YouTube video by 60otaku4
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Tune of the day…Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower Sunrise/ Sunset. This 1966 live performance captures the sound of the era perfectly. The 2nd half is an example of allowing something simple to breathe long enough trusting that creativity will emerge, refusing to let go. #jazzsky youtu.be/qOGqAvElCAs
Self Promotion Sunday… I got to play on this tune with Randy Becker on this 2023 recording. My solo starts at 3:00 followed after by Randy. I guess I felt obligated to play a lot of notes, considering who he was used to playing with. #jazzsky youtu.be/qcPo7QrEcoc
Lookin’ Back
YouTube video by Bob Holz - Topic
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Self Promotion Sunday… I got to play on this tune with Randy Becker on this 2023 recording. My solo starts at 3:00 followed after by Randy. I guess I felt obligated to play a lot of notes, considering who he was used to playing with. #jazzsky youtu.be/qcPo7QrEcoc