Dave Griffiths is a renowned blues, choro and jazz mandolin player and an accomplished jazz bass player. He started playing mandolin in the 60’s influenced by blues, ragtime and jug band music.
After meeting bluesman Dave Peabody at Plymouth College of Art in 1967 he played with The Pongo Flossy Goodtime Merger later known as the Vintage Jug Band.
Moving to London in 1970 Dave joined Panama Limited to make an album, “Indian Summer“, for EMI Harvest label at Abbey Road studios. The album was an exciting venture with original material influenced by blues, jazz and Captain Beefheart. Sadly the album was not promoted by the record label, even after favourable reviews, and the band split with no work to support them. The album is now a collectors item and original vinyl copies sell for good prices.
When Dave Peabody relocated to London Dave collaborated with him to form the famed jug band Tight Like That with percussionist Bill Short and Tea Chest Bass player Hugh McNulty, recording their seminal album “Hokum” on the Village Thing label at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth. Tight Like That toured extensively in the UK and Europe. Dave appeared on two more albums with Peabody “Come and Get It” and “Peabody Hotel”.
Dave left Tight Like That to join Paul Brett recording one album “Interlife” on String Bass. The collaboration led to a move to Bristol where Dave met singer songwriter Dave Paskett appearing on his album “Pasketry” and toured as a successful duo on the folk circuit.
At the same time Dave met singer songwriter Jim Reynolds to create a partnership that would last to the present day. He played with Jim on both mandolin and bass and appeared on many of his albums including “We Three” and “Smile on Tap” with violinist Stuart Gordon.
A life long passion for jazz took flight on arrival in Bristol when Dave followed a more prominent career as a jazz bassist starting the first modern jazz club in Bristol with Pianist John Hooper. In a jazz career spanning nearly 30 years, amongst others, Dave has played alongside Dusko Goykovich, Barbara Thompson, Michael Hashim, Stan Tracy, Bobby Chew, Tal Farlow and John Etheridge.
Television and radio appearances with Paul Brett, Tight Like That, the Johny Hooper Trio, Smile , and BBC Jazz Parade with Dave Herrington Quartet and Duncan Anselm Quartet. Dave lead the mighty “Mingus Fingers” a 7 piece tribute band to the late and great Charles Mingus and was tutor for 7 years on the Bristol Jazz Workshops and recently on the Sore Fingers Easter Week. Many appearances at UK Jazz Festivals including Bude, Marlborough, Swanage, Upton on Severn and Brecon.
In the late 90‘s Dave’s passion for the mandolin was rekindled after hearing an album by Brazilian Bandolim player Jacob do Bandolim. This led to forming a quartet called “Brejeiro” playing the jazz based Samba music of Brazil called Choro. Their CD’s ‘La Llorona‘ and “Carinhoso” are available through this site, through CD Baby and i-Tunes.
In 2002 Dave ventured into the classical arena performing the Beethoven Sonatas at Ashton Court Festival with pianist Jon Stein and a brief period with Blues man Eddie Martin appearing on his album “Keep on Working”.
Always eager to raise the profile of the mandolin in Britain, Dave is active with the BMG Federation dedicated to encouraging young musicians to take up the mandolin and he runs workshops at Festivals, the BMG Rally and in his home town of Bristol. He has been a tutor at Sore Fingers.
Dave now works with his band Cavacante (a reforming of his choro band) and with Jim Reynolds and Hilary Pavey