Biography

(click on image for downloadable press photo)



David Gould was born in Hempstead, NY and grew up in Merrick. He studied trumpet from 2nd-8th grade in the school band and took up piano on his own at 13. When he was 15, hestarted teaching himself the electric bass. David spent most of his formative years listening to his parents' records from the 1950's (do-op and pop music) and the sounds of classic rock (Led Zep, The Beatles, The Who, Rolling Stones, etc.).

David studied liberal arts at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he explored Wazoo Records and other used record shops and discovered the roots of funk in Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament, Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock, and James Brown. Other influences during this time period included John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Phish and Frank Zappa. Throughout college, David performed in many bands, including: Mission Impossible, Ryth McFeud, Uncle Chunk, and his senior-thesis project band: ibid and the Footnotes. He also produced rock opera productions of the Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall that drew sell-out crowds in 1990-1991.

After college, he moved to Chicago then Boston to pursue music as a life and landed in Boston in 1995 where he joined the 12-piece funk and soul group "The Crown Electric Company" (CEC). CEC performed around Massachusetts for 3 years during which time David also formed an offshoot group—an instrumental groove band "The Board of Education". It was in this group that he was dubbed David "Solid" Gould by saxophonist/flutist Ken Field.



The Board of Education started playing Thursday nights in the corner "Bakery" room at the Middle East (in the window) on Massachusetts Ave in Cambridge, MA in 1996. It became a great ritual for many and the 3-4 hour jam sessions were happening with many great musical guests. This jam session continued every Thursday night for the next 4 years.

During this same time period, Gould discovered reggae music and started collecting and surrounding himself with this wonderfully meditative music. It became a dominant force in his life and continues to be to this day. David also discovered music from Africa and Cuba that shifted his creative scope. The music of Fela Kuti, in particularly, provided tremendous inspiration. Other projects in Boston included creating and playing a new instrument called the "Bubbafone". David performed on the streets of Harvard Square with country-blues guitarist Ross Robinson as The Tahini Brothers. He also performed with the New Orleans Jazz Group Made in the Shade.

In 1997, David was approached by the band John Brown's Body (JBB) to fill the bass chair in the group. David left the Board of Ed (who continued to play every Thu night for another 3 years!!!!!) and went on the road with JBB for 5 years. JBB toured the country full time, clocking in more than 700 shows between 1998 and 2001. They were signed to Shanachie Records in 1998 and released 3 CDs on this label. David can be heard on "Among Them"–1998, "This Day"–1999, and "Spirits All Around Us"–2001.












David performed with JBB at great festivals such as "Reggae on the Rocks", "Sierra Nevada World Music Festival", "High Sierra Music Festival", "Berkshire Mountain Festival", "Bob Marley Music Festival", among others. JBB has shared the stage with Lauryn Hill, Erika Badu, Maceo Parker, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, Lee "Scratch" Perry, John Medeski, Michael Franti, The Wailers, Morphine, and many others.



Before David left JBB, he performed with Justin Hinds and recorded a CD along with JBB LIVE! at the Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival in 2002.

While in John Brown's Body, David started exploring the connections between roots reggae and traditional Hebrew chants and prayers. Adonai and I (A&I) was born. In 2001 David produced and released 2 records with this project: the self-titled debut "Adonai and I" on Itown Records and a dub remix "Adonai in Dub" on John Zorn's Tzadik Records. These CDs are available in stores throughout North America and Europe.




David ventured into radio in April 2008, debuting FRESH ROOTS RADIO on WVBR FM Ithaca, NY David is still taking the mic on Saturday nights between 10pm-12am. You can stream it live all over the world online at www.wvbr.com/listen

Fresh Roots Radio is a thematic presentation of Jamaican recorded ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and rockers music from the years 1960-1985. Presented in chapters, Gould explores the vaults of obscure and eclectic roots music. His show is well respected in reggae communities locally and internationally.

In June of 2008, David arranged to bring Leonard "Sparrow" Dillon and The Ethiopians from Jamaica to Ithaca, NY. He and formed an allstar band called "Solid Foundation" to back them up at Ithaca Fest in June 2008. Check out the photos and interview MP3s!

In October of 2009, David will be releasing his third album "Feast of the Passover" on Tzadik Records. Feast of the Passover features critically-acclaimed Romanian saxophone player Yuri Yunakov, as well as the legendary Jamaican singers Leonard “Sparrow” Dillon (of the Ethiopians) and the Silvertones. Tommy Benedetti and Mike Keenan from John Brown’s Body
hold down the drums and lead guitar.



David Gould - Feast of the Passover
The Reggae master from 'Adonai in Dub' returns to Tzadik with another fascinating program of Jewish music- Reggae style. FEAST OF THE PASSOVER is a collection of songs commonly sung during the Passover seder and features many of David's associates, the critically-acclaimed Romanian saxophone player Yuri Yunakov, the legendary Leonard "Sparrow" Dillon (of the Ethiopians) and the Silvertones on vocals. Incredibly varied and spiritually-inspired muskc connecting the Rasta and Jewish traditions through the miracle of music, this is the perfect background to anyone's 21st century seder - John Zorn


David's 10-piece live group "Adonai and I" is back with an all-new lineup of allstar players from central NY. You can catch them at a venue near you.
The group performs original roots reggae and dub selections inspired by ancient and traditional Hebrew melodies as well as obscure Jamaican reggae covers covering relevant themes. A&I is currently performing throughout the United States and is available for bookings. The group is also available for private occasions.




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