Born in Pittsburgh, PA on March 1st, 1958,
composer/pianist Dave Flippo began studying piano
at age 4. His eclectic experience and extensive
studies have all contributed to the music he has
written in his career in Chicago.
Dave holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in music composition from the University of Michigan, a Masters of Music in composition from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor or Arts in music composition/theory from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has also done extensive side studies in both jazz and ethnic music After moving to Chicago in 1987, he studied jazz with Alan Swain and performed and composed for the Ethos Chamber Orchestra. In 1991, Flippo formed his own modern jazz ensemble, FLIPPOMUSIC to perform his new compositions.
Dave holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in music composition from the University of Michigan, a Masters of Music in composition from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor or Arts in music composition/theory from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has also done extensive side studies in both jazz and ethnic music After moving to Chicago in 1987, he studied jazz with Alan Swain and performed and composed for the Ethos Chamber Orchestra. In 1991, Flippo formed his own modern jazz ensemble, FLIPPOMUSIC to perform his new compositions.
Dave Flippo Bio
His first ten years with the band focused on "globaljazz" compositions, pieces that blended jazz with various world music
styles from all over the world - Africa, Indonesia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, India and South America. He
recorded two CD's on Southport Records: Tendrils of Light and Ganesh.
Flippo's interest in singing near the turn of the century led away from the "globaljazz" concept and toward more mainstream writing, yet he continued to look outside the tradition for inspiration and ways of stretching the jazz language. The initial result was When the Heart is Strong the Voice Rings True with is primarily a duo CD with bassist Donn De Santo.
Between 2004 and 2006 Dave enrolled in and completed the "Writer's Workshop" at the Theater Building Chicago, where he wrote two full length musicals - Amelia and Roxane of Bergerac. These lessons in setting text helped him on his next project, Tao Tunes - musical settings of 18 chapters of the ancient Tao Te Ching. These pieces were written between 2004 and 2009 and the subsequent recording was released in November of 2011. Flippo set the texts in a wide variety of styles, striving to portray the variety of moods and energies of life, including Latin, jazz, funk, ambient and rock.
FLIPPOMUSIC'S members include Dan Hesler on saxophones and flute, Donn DeSanto on bass, Dave Flippo on piano and vocals, Heath Chappell on drums and Aras Biskis on percussion. Their present program mixes all of Flippo's Chicago compositions - globaljazz, other mainstream pieces and Tao Tunes.
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Additional:
Dave was also a member of "Pong Unit", for five years between 1999 and 2004/. The quartet backed slam poetry creator Marc Smith in both Chicago clubs and on tour. While performing composed pieces to back Smith, the band was required to improvise in any style requested by guest poets - hip hop, reggae, blues, freeform, impressionistic, country, acid rock,etc.
Teachers include: COMPOSITION: Daniel Perlongo, Robert Morris, Warren Benson, George B. Wilson, William Albright, William Bolcolm, Leslie Bassett; PIANO: Bob Emmel, Nicolo Sartori, Rebecca Penneys; CONDUCTING: Gustav Meier, Larry Ratcliff, Carl SinclairJAZZ PIANO: Alan Swain; ARRANGING: Sydney Hodkinson, Cliff Colnot; ETHNIC MUSIC STUDIES: William Malm, Ellen Kester, Lyon Leifer, Muntaz Ali,
Dave is married to Melissa Leeb and has two children Gabriel and Gillian and a dog Biscuit. He is a private teacher of jazz and classical piano at the College of Lake County, his own "Dr. Flippo's Eclectic Piano Studios" and teaches in the hom throughout the Northshore. He performes for private events and parties as a solo pianist, pianist/vocalist and a small ensemble leader.
Flippo's interest in singing near the turn of the century led away from the "globaljazz" concept and toward more mainstream writing, yet he continued to look outside the tradition for inspiration and ways of stretching the jazz language. The initial result was When the Heart is Strong the Voice Rings True with is primarily a duo CD with bassist Donn De Santo.
Between 2004 and 2006 Dave enrolled in and completed the "Writer's Workshop" at the Theater Building Chicago, where he wrote two full length musicals - Amelia and Roxane of Bergerac. These lessons in setting text helped him on his next project, Tao Tunes - musical settings of 18 chapters of the ancient Tao Te Ching. These pieces were written between 2004 and 2009 and the subsequent recording was released in November of 2011. Flippo set the texts in a wide variety of styles, striving to portray the variety of moods and energies of life, including Latin, jazz, funk, ambient and rock.
FLIPPOMUSIC'S members include Dan Hesler on saxophones and flute, Donn DeSanto on bass, Dave Flippo on piano and vocals, Heath Chappell on drums and Aras Biskis on percussion. Their present program mixes all of Flippo's Chicago compositions - globaljazz, other mainstream pieces and Tao Tunes.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional:
Dave was also a member of "Pong Unit", for five years between 1999 and 2004/. The quartet backed slam poetry creator Marc Smith in both Chicago clubs and on tour. While performing composed pieces to back Smith, the band was required to improvise in any style requested by guest poets - hip hop, reggae, blues, freeform, impressionistic, country, acid rock,etc.
Teachers include: COMPOSITION: Daniel Perlongo, Robert Morris, Warren Benson, George B. Wilson, William Albright, William Bolcolm, Leslie Bassett; PIANO: Bob Emmel, Nicolo Sartori, Rebecca Penneys; CONDUCTING: Gustav Meier, Larry Ratcliff, Carl SinclairJAZZ PIANO: Alan Swain; ARRANGING: Sydney Hodkinson, Cliff Colnot; ETHNIC MUSIC STUDIES: William Malm, Ellen Kester, Lyon Leifer, Muntaz Ali,
Dave is married to Melissa Leeb and has two children Gabriel and Gillian and a dog Biscuit. He is a private teacher of jazz and classical piano at the College of Lake County, his own "Dr. Flippo's Eclectic Piano Studios" and teaches in the hom throughout the Northshore. He performes for private events and parties as a solo pianist, pianist/vocalist and a small ensemble leader.