R.I.P.: Dave Carpenter

Dave Carpenter
(b: November 4, 1959, Dayton, Ohio;
d: June 23, 2008, Burbank, Calif.)
Some of Dave Carpenter's best recordings were done on albums by Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Toots Thielemans, Mike Garson, Eddie Daniels, Andy Summers, Allan Holdsworth and specially on the CDs he recorded with the excellent trio he co-led with super-underrated piano master Alan Pasqua and ex-Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine.
In the pop field, he recorded with Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Rod Stewart (on the multi-million selling "It Had To Be You", which peaked at #4 in the Billboard Pop Chart) and even Shakira.

But one of my personal favorites is the fantastic CD "Tipping Point", which showcases Dave Carpenter's artistry in a trio setting with pianist Gary Husband and drummer Jason Smith. Recorded live at Los Angeles' Jazz Bakery (where else?) in 2006, it was released last year on Leonardo Pavkovic's progressive MoonJune label.

One of his last sessions was Dianne Reeves' 2008 album "When You Know", recently released on Blue Note and, certainly, a future Grammy nominee.
Two obituaries - from LA Times and JazzTimes mag - follow.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-me-carpenter30-2008jun30,0,7724153.story
Dave Carpenter, 48; jazz bassist co-founded Santa Monica-based Lounge Art Ensemble
From a Times Staff Writer
June 30, 2008
Dave Carpenter, a jazz bassist who worked with scores of legendary names, appeared on more than 200 recordings and was a founding member of the Lounge Art Ensemble, died June 23 of a heart attack at his home in Burbank. He was 48. Most recently, Carpenter had been playing in a trio with pianist Alan Pasqua and drummer Peter Erskine and had just released an album called "Standards."
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Carpenter was born Nov. 4, 1959. He first studied the trumpet but switched to the bass at 12. After studying music at Ohio State University, he launched his professional career playing with three giants of jazz: Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman. "Woody's band was the best, musically, because of the history that was in his repertoire, while Buddy was more like a life education," Carpenter told The Times some years ago. "I got so much confidence working with him."
Carpenter moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and found work as a studio musician with leading names including Herbie Hancock, Celine Dion, Ringo Starr, Hubert Laws, Michel Legrand and Barry Manilow.In the mid-1990s, Carpenter joined drummer Erskine and saxophonist Bob Sheppard to form the Santa Monica-based Lounge Art Ensemble and performed frequently in venues around Southern California. The group took existing jazz standards, put new melodies on top of the chord changes and came up with new titles. "Dave Carpenter made any piece of music sound and feel better by his incredible musicianship, uncompromising beat and unerring ability to choose the right note at the right time," Erskine said. "His musical presence will be sorely missed by all who knew and heard him."
In addition to his jazz and pop music work, Carpenter was interested in classical music and worked as a soloist with the Los Angeles and Berlin philharmonic orchestras.Survivors include his wife, Valerie, and two brothers.
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http://www.jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/news/detail.cfm?article=11489
by Jeff Tamarkin
"Dave Carpenter, 48, a bassist whose lengthy list of credits included work with Herbie Hancock, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and many others, died June 23 at his home in Burbank, Calif.
Carpenter, who was also a founding member of the Lounge Art Ensemble, had most recently played in a trio with pianist Alan Pasqua and drummer Peter Erskine. Carpenter’s most recent album was Standards.
Carpenter was born in 1959 in Dayton, Ohio. His first instrument was the trumpet, but he switched to bass when he was 12. Carpenter later studied music at Ohio State University before going on to play professionally. Among his other credits were recordings with Celine Dion, Hubert Laws, Ringo Starr, Barry Manilow, Allan Holdsworth, Michel Legrand and many others."