Photo by Nick Granville
PROJECTS
MY JAZZ SCHOOL
In progress is a series of online courses based on material that Dave has taught at four universities and public school in the United States, Canada, UK, and New Zealand.
Visit the website and follow the Facebook page.
METROPOLIS
Inspired by the 1927 film by Fritz Lang, Metropolis is original music for jazz orchestra featuring a New York jazz orchestra including Jaleel Shaw, Alex Terrier, Donny McCaslin, Scott Robinson, Lauren Sevian, Walter White, Alex Sipiagin, Philip Harper, Conrad Herwig, Robin Eubanks, Luis Bonilla Dave Taylor, Dave Kikoski, Matt Brewer, and Jeff "Tain" Watts.
ANNUS MIRABILIS, NEMESIS, JOUST,BONNIE AND CLYDE
Annus Miribilis (2025), Nemesis (2023), Joust (2020), and
Bonnie and Clyde (2017) are four album recordings in a series of duos. They feature Dave's original tunes performed by the incomparable Alex Sipiagin (trumpet and flugelhorn) and Dave Kikoski (piano).
MY JAZZ REVIEW
Is a new website for "The jazz album and concert reviews, interviews, and feature articles that I might want to read."
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ENDEAVOUR JAZZ ORCHESTRA
An ensemble created and directed by Dave to document and showcase the work of New Zealand's most outstanding young composers, many of them recent master's and doctoral graduates. The first project: Solipsis -Music of Ryan Brake received four star rating in Downbeat Magazine and was one their "Best Albums of 2022."
HITCH/SLAP
Hitch / Slap (2020) is a recording of Dave's original music performed by a quartet of Donny McCaslin, Luis Bonilla, Andy McKee, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York. Liner notes by Scott Yanow.
50 YEARS AT THE
VILLAGE VANGUARD
50 Years at the Village Vanguard - Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (2017) is a book by Dave Lisik and Eric Allen celebrating the half-century legacy of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
RELATIVITY
Relativity (2017) is a recording of Dave's original suite performed by the Alex Sipiagin Septet: Chris Potter, Will Vinson, John Escreet, Boris Kozlov, Eric Harland, and Alina Engibaryan. Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York. Liner notes by theoretical physicist, Dr. Ronald Mallett.
NEW ZEALAND YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Dave has co-directed the NZYJO since 2011. The ensemble auditions NZ's top jazz musicians under twenty years of age and tours with an international guest artist. Recent artists have included Francisco Torres (2019), Tom Luer (2019), Alex Sipiagin (2017), Dick Oatts (2016, 2012), Scott Wendholt (2015), Luis Bonilla (2014), Clay Jenkins (2013), John Fedchock (2011).
NZSM JAZZ FESTIVAL
Dave proposed the creation of the NZSM Jazz Festival for New Zealand high school students in 2010 and has co-directed and produced the festival from its inception in 2011 until 2023. Guest artists/adjudicators included Alex Sipiagin, Dick Oatts, Bob Sheppard, Luis Bonilla, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal, Joe LaBarbera, Karrin Allyson, Robben Ford, and Bennie Maupin.
NATIONAL JAZZ WORKSHOPS and
JAZZ EDUCATORS WORKSHOPS
As chair and trustee of the New Zealand Jazz Foundation, Dave coordinates the annual National Jazz Workshops, hosting New Zealand's best high school jazz students and more than a dozen jazz educators for a week of rehearsals, performances and classes. The Workshops also host international guest artist/teachers. Recent artists have included John Riley, Tom Luer, Luis Bonilla, Alex Sipiagin, Bob Sheppard, and Brandon Fields.
CONCERTI
Dave's jazz orchestra arrangement of Mike Nock's solo classical piece Raff Riff was recorded by the Rodger Fox Big Band and released on Concerti. The RFBB toured a collection of pieces written for Michael Houstoun and big band throughout 2015 and 2016.
ELECTROACOUSTIC BARN DANCE
Dave was in New York in November, 2014 performing original electroacoustic music at a concert at Spectrum, produced by Dr. Jorge Sosa, and in Fredericksburg, Virginia at Dr. Mark Snyder's
Electroacoustic Barn Dance New Music Festival.
MACHAUT MAN AND A
SUPERMAN HAT
Dave's original tunes played by an incredible band of some of New York's top jazz musicians: Alex Sipiagin, Donny McCaslin, Dave Kikoski, Boris Kozlov, and Donald Edwards. Recorded November, 2012 at Systems Two in Brooklyn, New York. Commissioned artwork by Chad Anderson. Liner notes by Scott Yanow.
TE ARA PUORO: MAORI INSTRUMENT BOOK
A book by Richard Nunns, traditional Maori instrument guru, was published in 2014. The book includes a CD featuring three tracks from recent projects Dave completed with Richard: Ancient Astronaut Theory, The Curse of the Queen's Diamond, and Hikoi-Journey. A release event was held on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
NZSM BIRTH OF THE COOL ENSEMBLE
The NZSM Faculty Birth of the Cool Ensemble gave its premiere performance in the NZSM Concert Hall, performing music from the original Miles Davis Nonet album. The new faculty ensemble serves as a vehicle for NZSM student composers.
CHARLES PILLOW and SUNY OSWEGO WIND ENSEMBLE
On May 8, 2014, the State University of New York - Oswego Wind Ensemble premiered the work, commissioned work by Dave, Dogmas of the Quiet Past, for wind ensemble and alto saxophone soloist. Charles Pillow, saxophone soloist and Trevor Jorgensen, conductor.
MARVIN STAMM PROJECT
Dave's collection of 24 transcribed solos of trumpeter Marvin Stamm is published by Charles Colin Publishing, New York. The collection features an interview with Marvin and a CD of all of the original recorded solos.
JAZZGROOVE MOTHERSHIP ORCHESTRA
As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations, Australia's premiere jazz orchestra toured New Zealand and Australia with guest artists Darcy James Argue, Sean Wayland, and Maria Schneider. The Mothership commissioned Dave to write a chart based one one of Sean's tunes, Boxing Day, which was premiered and recorded on this tour.
UNIVERSITY OF MARY
JAZZ FESTIVAL
January 25-26, 2013, Bismarck, ND, USA
Dave was adjudicator and guest artist at the Univerity of Mary Jazz Festival and also spent the week visiting area schools doing workshops with high school jazz bands.
WALKABOUT -
A PLACE FOR VISIONS
In 2010, Australia's top Jazz Orchestra commissioned the album, Walkabout, featuring guest soloists Alex Sipiagin and Bob Sheppard. The album was recorded at Studios 301 in Sydney, and performed in concert at the Sydney Conservatorium. Dave also guest-conducted the Sydney Con. Jazz Orchestra performing movements from his Coming Through Slaughter album.
COMING THROUGH SLAUGHTER -
THE BOLDEN LEGEND
The premiere recording of the Dave Lisik Orchestra, Coming Through Slaughter - The Bolden Legend features Tim Hagans, Donny McCaslin, Luis Bonilla and Matt Wilson.
