David A. Ruffels, M.M.,B.A.
EDUCATION:
2000-2002
State University of New York,Purchase,New York
Master of Music (4.03 gpa)
1990-1992
William Paterson University,Wayne,New Jersey
Bachelor of Music
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2008 (since 1998)
Western Connecticut State University,Danbury,Connecticut:
Adjunct Instructor-Acoustic/Electric Bass,improvisation,small group ensemble coach
2008 (Since Fall 2006)
State University of New York, Purchase, New York:
Adjunct Instructor -
Acoustic/Electric Bass
2008 SUNY PURCHASE
Summer Jazz Institute:
Clinician/Instructor/Performer
2008 (since 2000)
Greater Danbury Youth Association, Danbury,Connectictut:
Improvisation Clinician
2007 (since 2000)
Norwalk High School, Norwalk, Connecticut:
Adjudicator for annual High School Jazz Band competition
2006
Litchfield Jazz Festival Summer Jazz Camp, Litchfield, Connecticut:
Performances, Master Classes, Private instruction & small group combo coach
2002-2004
College of St.Rose,Albany,New York:
Adjunct Instructor-Acoustic/Electric Bass
1998-2001
University of Bridgeport,Bridgeport Connecticut:
Adjunct Instructor-Acoustic/Electric Bass
1996-1997
William Paterson University,Wayne New Jersey:
Bassist for small group ensembles
2000
Lake Placid Institute,Summer Jazz Workshop,Lake Placid,New York:
Bassist for small group combos
1995
Newark Performing Arts Center,Jazz For Teens, Newark, New Jersey:
Bassist for small group combos
1995-1996
New Jersey Public Schools:
Assisted drummer Yoron Israel in performance clinics
1994-PRESENT
Manhattan/Astoria:
private teaching studio
MUSICAL BACKGROUND:
David Ruffels holds a Master of Music Degree from the State University of New York at Purchase, New York, as well as a Bachelors in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, both internationally acclaimed jazz study programs.
While at William Paterson, David studied bass and improvisation with Rufus Reid and Dr. Todd Coolman. He continued his acoustic bass studies with Dr. Coolman while attending S.U.N.Y. Purchase, New York.,as a Master of Music degree candidate in the spring of 2002.
David has also studied jazz bass with: Steve LaSpina, Ron McLure, Harvie S., John Goldsby, Kermit Driscoll, Jeff Fuller, Dave Santoro, and John Patitucci.
David’s classical bass training has included studies with Robert Black and Linda McKnight.
Dave began his jazz studies at the University of Connectictut with Ellen Rowe, and had his musical beginnings at West Hill H.S. in Stamford Ct., with Fred Pasqua.
Moving to Manhattan in 1995, David's freelance career as a jazz bassist in New York City has opened the doors to many exciting musical adventures!
One recent project : from the spring of 2003 until the spring of 2005 he performed regularly with Israeli musicians Dekel Bor and drummer Nadav Snir as a member of the “Dekel Bor Trio”, working in New York City as well as touring throughout the East Coast. They recorded the CD: Stories and Tales, and spent time working with the grammy award winning producer Robert Sadin.
Another recent recording project was the CD*: Contrast to the Madness, with the “InSpirit Quartet”, a group Dave founded in the winter 2003 with saxophonist Derrick James. The quartet also includes guitarist Scott Hesse and Drummer Ernie Colon. Contrast to the Madness is the group’s debut CD comprised of 10 original compositions written and arranged by the members of the quartet. The CD was produced by Todd Barken, artistic coordinator for “Jazz at Lincoln Center” in Manhattan, New York.
David’s career has included performances in New York City nightclubs such as: Arthur’s Tavern, the Gishen CafÈ, CafÈ Creole, Sanctuary, Palmiera, Augie’s, Smoke, the Garage, the Internet CafÈ, the Knitting Factory, the 55 Bar, S.O.B.’s, the Green Room, Visiones, the Blue Note, Zinno’s, The West Bank Cafe, Freddy’s, Smith’s, and No. 28., Perch, Flute, Jezebel's, Bar 4, New York Open Center...
David has also performed at The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Public Library, the
New York Open Center, Central Synagogue, BRIC/
Brooklyn Information & Culture studio, WBAI - 99.5fm...
Clubs outstide of NYC: South East Grill House, Brewster, NY; Silvermine Tavern, New Canaan, CT;
Ciboney, Poughkeepsie, NY; Ryles, Boston, MA;
Deer Head Inn, Delaware Water Gap, PA...
Jazz festivals and larger venues:
Newark Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J., the “Redbank Jazz Festival” in Redbank, N.J., and the “Jazz by the Sea” jazz festival in Groton, Connecticut...
In November 2001, David worked with the Chiquita Green quintet at the Half Note jazz club in Athens, Greece.
His New York experience has also included "trench" work in the subways of Manhattan, as part of the “Music Under New York” festival, sponsored by the New York City Transit Authority...
David has performed as a classical bassist with the Wayne Chamber Orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tulley Hall. He has worked with the Broadway musicals: “The Me Nobody Knows”, “West Side Story”, “Nunsense”, and “The Music of Michael Valente”.
Since 1998, David has often substituted for bassist Ratzo Harris in the cabaret act of Judy Kreston featuring David Laam, at “Judy’s Chelsea” and “Danny’s”, both in Manhattan.
Since the fall of 1998, David has been an Adjunct Instructor of Music at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut, teaching acoustic & electric jazz bass; classical bass; jazz combos; and jazz Improvisation.
David has also taught both accoustic and electric bass at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as well as at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.
David’s involvement in jazz education has included assisting in the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University, as well as the Jazz For Teens Program under the guidance of bassist Rufus Reid, at the Newark Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.
David has worked with drummer Yoron Israel giving clinics and performances to students in elementary schools throughout New Jersey
In the summer of 2000, he assisted in the jazz workshop of the Lake Placid Institute in Lake Placid, N.Y..
Since 2000 he has adjudicated for the Norwalk High School Big Band Competion.
For the past four years David has been on the staff of the Greater Danbury Youth Summer Music Camp, held at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut.
Since 1995, David has maintained a private teaching practice at his studio in Manhattan.
SELECT RECORDINGS:
inSpirit Quartet; CONTRAST TO THE MADNESS
David Ruffels Quartet/Quintet; ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
Dekel Bor Trio; STORIES AND TALES
Carol Sudhalter Quintet; IT'S TIME!
AWARDS/HONORS:
2004;Downbeat Magazine:Distinguished Alumni for
S.U.N.Y. Purchase
2002; State University of New York, Purchase, New York, Master of Music Degree
(4.03 g.p.a.)
Milt Hinton Memorial Service;Riverside Church,
New York City:Member of All Star Bass Ensemble
directed by John Clayton
Milt Hinton's 90th Birthday Celebration;Danny Kaye
Playhouse,New York City:Member of All Star Bass
Ensemble directed by Rufus Reid
Ray Brown's 75th Birthday Tribute; The New School,
New York City: Member of All Star Bass Ensemble
directed by John Clayton
MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS/EXPERIENCES WITH:
Joe Henderson
JoAnne Brackeen
Michael Brecker
Joshua Redman
Lionel Hampton
Marion McPartland
Jon Faddis
Lew Soloff
Adam Nussbaum
Jeff Williams
Harold Mabern
Yoron Israel
Greg Hutchinson
Winard Harper
Joel Rosenblatt
Bobby Leonard
Ron Blake
Chris Parker
Matt Wilson
Albert "Tootsie" Bean
Lou Petto
Nadav Snir Zelniker
Andre Ryabov
Mark Elf
Tim Horner
Marvin"Bugalu"Smith
Frank Wess
Kim Thompson
Stan Francis
John Neish
Clarence Penn
Marvin"Smitty"Smith
Ernie Colon
Adam Issadore
Brian Woodruff
Andrea Valentini
Roland
Russ Meissner
Neil Smith
Gernot Bernroider
Roland Schneider
Burt Karl
Tony Jefferson
Jeff"Siege"Siegal
Thiery Arpino
Scott Latsky
Gerry Fitzgerald
Scott Veenstra
Jim Royal
Jim Doyle
John Cutrone
Grecian Alexander
Tim Walsh
John Jenkins
Christian Finger
Greg Burrows
Jim Oblon
Ismail Lawal
Chris Morrison
Joe Beck
Dave Stryker
Gil Paris
Doug Munro
Lee Metcalf
Joel Newton
Scott Denett
Ron Affif
Paul Meyers
Bill Bickford
Vic Juris
Bob Devos
Doug Proper
Mark Elf
Rick Stone
Jack Wilkins
John Stohl
Brian Babcock
Pedro
Joe LoPiccolo
Cecil Gregory
Tony Lombardosi
Jeff Burr
Jeff Peretz
Amanda Monico
Terrance McManus
Scott Anderson
Scott Hesse
Dekel Bor
Rob Reich
Gene Siegal
Sebastion Noelle
Roshaan
Ofare Ganore
Judy Silvano
Myra Melford
Fatima
Marlena Primavera
Judy Kreston
Nicole Pasternak
Shy Peled
Jerry Malkin
Kate Baker
Giacamo Gates
Geoff Keezer
Matt King
Rob Aries
Will Boulware
Toro Dodo
David Lahm
Allan Kaman
Bill Gerhardt
Don Friedman
Enrique Hanein
Pete Tomlinson
Amy Duncan
Anat Fort
Eri Yamamoto
Dave Downing
Dor Bar-Shalom
Ian McDonald
Kieth Saunders
Iquo
Michika
Tomoko Ono
Vinnie Martucci
Sarah Jane Cion
Roberta Piket
Janice Friedman
Kevin Hays
Phil Magnalaris
Brian Charette
DD Jackson
Jim Rotundi
Dave Scott
Steve Davis
Chris Botti
Chuck McKinnon
Fred Jacobs
Bill Dowling
Mike Genovese
Jacob Varmus
Randy Sandke
Mike Davis
Jiggs Wigham
Alex Lodico
Rick Margitza
Rob Scheps
Benny Russel
Ken Gioffre
Marshall McDonald
Gabriel
Ian Russell
Dimitri Moderbacher
Grazia D'Giorgia
Derrick James
Donny McCaslin
Sal Giogianni
Bruce Williams
Turk Mauro
Gary Keller
Andrew Beals
Sid Simmons
Matt Hong
Nick Trautwine
Dan Faulk
Joel Frahm
Vic Baker
Jeff Newel
Ralph LaLama
Carmine Leggio
Jerry Niewood
Adam Niewood
Jerry Malcon
Joe Meo
Fred Scherbo
Ron Gozzo
Mark Turner
Tony Malaby
Bill Evans
Don Alico
Mike Leventhal
Dan Goble
Jon Blanc
Dave Smith
Ted Piltzeker
Jamie Begian
Gene Gee
Frank D'maio
Jamie Finegan
Evan Faulkner
Ellen Rowe
Gary Versace
Aimee Allen
Robert Rodriguez
Richard Padron
Lance Bryant
Phil DeGreg
Gene Gee
Conrad Herwig
Terrell Stafford
Paul Bollenbeck
Jeff Helmer
Doug Schlink
Akiko Tsuruga
Gilad Ronen
Jimmy Greene
Rogerio Boccato
Kris Allen
Peter Madsen
Mike DiRubbo
Joe Magnorelli
Louise Baranger
Kobe Hayon
Alejandro Aviles
Dre Barnes
Yoni Halevi
Yuval Tavachnick
John O'Gallagher
Eli Degibri
Adam Kolker
Loren Stillman
Clay Jenkins
Mark Furber
Billy Mintz
Dave Ambrosio
Mike Cabe
Dror Ben-Gur
G. Earl Grice Jr.
Kristjan Randalu
Alejandro Alveres
Jason Rigby
Sarah Bernstein
Angela W. Buchdahl
Mark Guiliana
Jeff Feldstein
Chuck Zeuron
Shunzo Ohno
Richie Morales
Alan Eicher
David Berkman
Tim Armacost
Shinnosuke Takahashi
Tsuyoshi Furutsu
Kenny Berger
Dan Tepfer
Rich Belkin
Roy Assaf
Stuart Isacoff
Ron Oswanski
Dave Rimelis
Eric Lewis
Fernando Himenez
Hilary Brown
Gina Cuffari
Rich Clymer
Aaron Barkon
Laura Telman
Chase Bronstein
Hafez Taghavi
Jay Azzolina
Jeff Pittson
Peppe Merolla
Tom Pollard
Bob Franceschini
Dave LaLama
Ron Vincent
Dan Nimmer
John Farnsworth
Jun Saito
John Merrill
Russ DiBona
Jun Miyake
Keiko Kurita
Ray Levier
Jerome Morris
Craig Hartley
Rich Eisentstein
Todd Isler
Bruce Arnold