Dave Newton
Dave Newton
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Dave Newton is a renowned American musician, composer, and educator best known for his work as a jazz pianist and arranger.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on March 6, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, Dave Newton passed away on April 21, 2018, at the age of 89.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American, Musician/Composer/Educator
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in a musical family, Newton was exposed to jazz from an early age. He began taking piano lessons at the age of five and later attended the Kansas City Art Institute. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Newton moved to New York City to pursue a career in music.
Major Accomplishments
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Newton's extensive career spanned over six decades, with numerous accomplishments that solidified his reputation as a jazz legend:
He worked alongside renowned musicians such as Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.
Newton was a key figure in the development of the "cool jazz" movement, characterized by its relaxed, introspective sound.
As an arranger and composer, he contributed to numerous albums and films, including the classic animated movie "A Boy Named Charlie Brown."
Newton's own album, "The Dave Newton Trio," was released in 1958 and received critical acclaim.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Newton's most notable works include:
Arranging music for the iconic television show "The Andy Griffith Show"
Composing music for several films and documentaries
Teaching at prestigious institutions such as New York University and the Berklee College of MusicImpact and Legacy
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Dave Newton's impact on jazz extends far beyond his individual contributions. He played a significant role in shaping the genre, influencing countless musicians who followed in his footsteps.
His legacy can be seen in:
The numerous musicians he mentored and collaborated with throughout his career
The enduring popularity of "cool jazz," which continues to inspire new generations of listeners
The timeless quality of Newton's compositions, which remain beloved by audiences today
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Dave Newton is widely quoted and remembered for his innovative approach to jazz composition and arrangement. His unique blend of melodic sophistication and harmonic complexity raised the bar for musicians of his era.
His quotes, often cited in discussions about jazz theory and history, offer valuable insights into the creative process:
"The key to good writing is simplicity."
"I'm not interested in making music that sounds like it was made yesterday."
Newton's commitment to artistic expression and his dedication to mentoring younger musicians have cemented his place as one of the most influential figures in jazz history.
Quotes by Dave Newton
I know they're not satisfied or happy with losses - they better not be - but they're trying hard, so that's all I can ask.
Their effort - they scramble and work as hard as they can until the end of the game. And I coach them to the end in that situation - I don't care what the score is. I want to see them get better and see those young kids have some success down the line here in the next couple years and it's going to start against good teams like that.
This gives Leeds something unique, something special. And it could grow to become something really big and long-lasting.
Defensively, we held them to eight, Holman had six inside and he ends up with eight for the game - so we hold him to two points the rest of the way. That's a pretty good effort against the big guy.
We didn't get off to too good of a start in the first quarter falling behind as bad as we were playing offensively. We were able to hang onto it because Y-C was making some early turnovers and giving us every opportunity to stay in the game.
When both those kids went to the bench, even though they weren't giving us a lot from the offensive scoring department, they were giving us a lot from a continuity standpoint. They were allowing us to have flow and move the ball well and get it to our shooters and they helped with rebounding.
(Y-C) just got too many looks at the basket - right at the hoop. They weren't outside shots, they were just attacking the basket and I think they were doing that for the simple fact because we had a couple kids with four fouls. Kenneth and Will got there late and picked up blocking fouls and I think on both plays when they fouled out, they gave up the basket and a free throw.
We just didn't get the shots up that we needed to get up and you just cannot do that at the varsity level. You're just not going to get away with that. We have to do a better job taking care of the basketball and then on the offensive side, executing and getting some movement in the offense and giving it a chance to get into a flow.
We just didn't have a good first half. Our problem has been inconsistency to put four quarters together all season long, and that's been our downfall.
I thought Jeremy had a steady game. For having 16 points, it didn't really seem like he had that many. He just did so many other things. He had nine rebounds and that's key.