As a violinist, Dave has studied the classics but specializes in improvisation, Jazz, Latin and traditional fiddle styles. Celtic, Cajun, Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Western Swing are a few of the genres he is often called to play. He has performed with fiddlers, such as Mark O'Connor and Fiddling' Claude Williams, and salsa legends, such as Johnny Pachecho, Jose Fajardo, and Larry Harlow and Africando,and the iconic hip-hop group the Wu-tang Clan.
His strolling violin repertory includes popular songs of the past and present. He is the winner of several fiddle contests in the Tri-State Area. Also, he has performed on countless pop/folk/country/Latin and jazz recordings, film scores, and commercials.
As a guitarist David has a degree in performance from the School of Contemporary Music in Boston. He studied Classical Guitar with Mel Rizzuto and Donald Gadbois. He attended the Master Class with Andres Segovia at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His jazz guitar teachers include Vic Juris, John Carlini, and Ross Adams.
A few of the groups Dave has played guitar with include The Concordia Orchestra, Jambermusic, Black Legacy, The Plumbers, Rhythm Is Our Business, Travelin' Shoes, Theater By The Sea, Summerfun Theater and Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. He has toured Europe and the Middle East with Contemporary Pop group Freeman and Sweeney. David has held the lead guitar position for the Dave Elgart Band since 1980, performing at hundreds of venues in the Tri-State Area.
Aside from jazz and classical he also specializes in various styles of guitar country-picking slide guitar and salsa montunos. He also doubles on electric bass, banjo, ukulele and mandolin. The instruments he uses most frequently are:
- Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
- Gibson ES 150
- Alvarez Classical Guitar
- Martin D28 Steel-String Acoustic
