For nearly four decades, Grammy and Emmy nominated guitarist, composer, producer & educator David Becker has continued to define himself as one of the best and most unique voices in jazz and contemporary music by combining diverse influences and a passion for the new and different, and his ability to play for the present while always keeping an eye on the past and future. He has led the critically acclaimed DAVID BECKER TRIBUNE to a worldwide audience by performing in more than 40 countries.
Over the years, the DBT has shared the stage with such celebrated jazz acts as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker
and many more. German television journalist Roger Willemsen (ZDF) called him "One of the best Jazz Guitarists ever."
Jazz Podium and Downbeat called him "A poet on the Jazz Guitar." Jazz Thing and Gitarre & Bass called him” a virtuoso”.
David has released 20 recordings many topping the jazz and contemporary music charts. He has performed at some of
the most prestigious venues throughout the world including London's BARBICON CENTRE, Rotterdam's DE DOELEN,
New York’s MADISON SQUARE GARDEN and BIRDLAND. Becker has also appeared at many international jazz festivals including The Monterey Jazz Festival.
David Becker graduated from Musicians Institute in 1981 at age 19 and by age 22 he was touring internationally with the
David Becker Tribune. David signed with MCA records in 1986 and the release LONG PETER MADSEN debuted.
SIBERIAN EXPRESS (#1 R&R) followed in 1988 and the DBT established themselves in the world of Contemporary Jazz performing in 44 of the 50 US states. Four more DBT releases followed, THIRD TIME AROUND, IN MOTION (Blue Moon),
NEVSKY PROSPEKT (Pinorrekk) and GERMERICA (Silverline).
In 2005, David released a duo effort with guitar master Joe Diorio, THE COLOR OF SOUND. The CD was named "One of the best Guitar duo recordings of all time." - All Music LEAVING ARGENTINA from 2007 received high praise by the international press. Down Beat gave it “4 Stars” and the BBC said, “Brilliant musicianship, a really lovely album, in fact.” David’s music has been played on radio and television around the globe including RTL, ARD, The Weather Channel, Voice of America, XM/ Sirius Radio, NPR and more.
With the release of the highly personal and critically acclaimed recording BATAVIA in 2010, Becker crossed the border of musician and has become an advocate for the forgotten WWII Dutch POW’s in Indonesia. BATAVIA was ranked as one
of the top 10 World Music recordings of 2010 by World Music Central.org.
In 2015, following the critically acclaimed DBT 2013 album, DISTANCE TRAVELED (CMJ Jazz top 20), a solo recording
THE LONELY ROAD (Acoustic Music Records) was released . THE LONELY ROAD reached #30 on the iTunes Instrumental top 100 charts and was called, “One of the best solo guitar CD’s available today.” (Amazon UK) Becker also produced, arranged and performed on the Attila Zoller tribute record, MESSAGE TO ATTILA (ENJA) which also features Ron Carter, Pat Metheny,
Mike Stern, John Abercrombie, Jim Hall and more.
David has been active in music education releasing three instructional books: GETTING YOUR IMPROVISING INTO SHAPE (Mel Bay/Acoustic Music), PLAYING IN SHAPES (FingerPrint), RHYTHMIC MOTIFS FOR COMPING AND SOLOING (FingerPrint) as well as video courses TRANSITIONS TO JAZZ (True Fire) and UNLOCKING THE POWER OF TRIADS (Guitareo). His books/videos have been top sellers and received great reviews world wide. He has performed master
classes and workshops at some of the most prestigious Music Conservatories and Universities around the world. He is also a regular mentor for the Grammy U program.
In June of 2018, the DBT released a new studio recording single of KIWI DREAMS (Acoustic Music Records) written
for their 2016 Tour of New Zealand. David also teamed up with renowned guitarist Brad Rabuchin (Ray Charles) to record a tribute album for guitarist John Abercrombie. FOR JOHN was released in June 2019 and has been receiving great praise
world wide.
In early 2021, David wrote and released an Etudes book. In August, he recorded a trio project with Drummer Chris Bowman and former DBT Bassist Jim Donica. In September he also taped a series for the SPACE CHANNEL called PLANETS. The series debuted in early 2022. The Becker, Bowman, Donica recording, CONTINUUM was released in August of 2022 and in October, David's 20th recording, PLANETS was also released. CONTINUUM was submitted for a GRAMMY nomination. In 2023, PLANETS was submitted for a GRAMMY nomination.
Over the years, the DBT has shared the stage with such celebrated jazz acts as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker
and many more. German television journalist Roger Willemsen (ZDF) called him "One of the best Jazz Guitarists ever."
Jazz Podium and Downbeat called him "A poet on the Jazz Guitar." Jazz Thing and Gitarre & Bass called him” a virtuoso”.
David has released 20 recordings many topping the jazz and contemporary music charts. He has performed at some of
the most prestigious venues throughout the world including London's BARBICON CENTRE, Rotterdam's DE DOELEN,
New York’s MADISON SQUARE GARDEN and BIRDLAND. Becker has also appeared at many international jazz festivals including The Monterey Jazz Festival.
David Becker graduated from Musicians Institute in 1981 at age 19 and by age 22 he was touring internationally with the
David Becker Tribune. David signed with MCA records in 1986 and the release LONG PETER MADSEN debuted.
SIBERIAN EXPRESS (#1 R&R) followed in 1988 and the DBT established themselves in the world of Contemporary Jazz performing in 44 of the 50 US states. Four more DBT releases followed, THIRD TIME AROUND, IN MOTION (Blue Moon),
NEVSKY PROSPEKT (Pinorrekk) and GERMERICA (Silverline).
In 2005, David released a duo effort with guitar master Joe Diorio, THE COLOR OF SOUND. The CD was named "One of the best Guitar duo recordings of all time." - All Music LEAVING ARGENTINA from 2007 received high praise by the international press. Down Beat gave it “4 Stars” and the BBC said, “Brilliant musicianship, a really lovely album, in fact.” David’s music has been played on radio and television around the globe including RTL, ARD, The Weather Channel, Voice of America, XM/ Sirius Radio, NPR and more.
With the release of the highly personal and critically acclaimed recording BATAVIA in 2010, Becker crossed the border of musician and has become an advocate for the forgotten WWII Dutch POW’s in Indonesia. BATAVIA was ranked as one
of the top 10 World Music recordings of 2010 by World Music Central.org.
In 2015, following the critically acclaimed DBT 2013 album, DISTANCE TRAVELED (CMJ Jazz top 20), a solo recording
THE LONELY ROAD (Acoustic Music Records) was released . THE LONELY ROAD reached #30 on the iTunes Instrumental top 100 charts and was called, “One of the best solo guitar CD’s available today.” (Amazon UK) Becker also produced, arranged and performed on the Attila Zoller tribute record, MESSAGE TO ATTILA (ENJA) which also features Ron Carter, Pat Metheny,
Mike Stern, John Abercrombie, Jim Hall and more.
David has been active in music education releasing three instructional books: GETTING YOUR IMPROVISING INTO SHAPE (Mel Bay/Acoustic Music), PLAYING IN SHAPES (FingerPrint), RHYTHMIC MOTIFS FOR COMPING AND SOLOING (FingerPrint) as well as video courses TRANSITIONS TO JAZZ (True Fire) and UNLOCKING THE POWER OF TRIADS (Guitareo). His books/videos have been top sellers and received great reviews world wide. He has performed master
classes and workshops at some of the most prestigious Music Conservatories and Universities around the world. He is also a regular mentor for the Grammy U program.
In June of 2018, the DBT released a new studio recording single of KIWI DREAMS (Acoustic Music Records) written
for their 2016 Tour of New Zealand. David also teamed up with renowned guitarist Brad Rabuchin (Ray Charles) to record a tribute album for guitarist John Abercrombie. FOR JOHN was released in June 2019 and has been receiving great praise
world wide.
In early 2021, David wrote and released an Etudes book. In August, he recorded a trio project with Drummer Chris Bowman and former DBT Bassist Jim Donica. In September he also taped a series for the SPACE CHANNEL called PLANETS. The series debuted in early 2022. The Becker, Bowman, Donica recording, CONTINUUM was released in August of 2022 and in October, David's 20th recording, PLANETS was also released. CONTINUUM was submitted for a GRAMMY nomination. In 2023, PLANETS was submitted for a GRAMMY nomination.
The Heritage DAVID BECKER signature model guitar was unveiled in 2015 and the Homestead DB signature model
guitar in 2020.
guitar in 2020.
Selected Jazz Festival Appearances
Selected List of Master Classes
- Queen Mary Jazz Festival – Long Beach, CA
- Monterey Jazz Festival - Monterey, CA
- Central California Jazz Festival, Paso Robles, CA
- La Plata Jazz Festival – La Plata, Argentina
- CBA Jazz Festival - Cordoba, Argentina
- Buenos Aires Jazz Festival - Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Saulkrasti Jazz Festival – Saulkrasti, Latvia
- Jazz op den Berg Festival – Heist op den Berg, Belgium
- Hildener Jazz Tage – Hilden, Germany
- Potsdam Jazz Festival - Potsdam, Germany
- Stuttgart Jazz Open - Stuttgart, Germany
- Wuppertaler Jazz Meeting - Wuppertal, Germany
- Robert Norman Festival – Sarpsborg, Norway
- Ambon Jazz Festival - Ambon, Indonesia
- Attila Zoller Festival - Visegrad, Hungary
Selected List of Master Classes
- University of North Texas, Denton, TX
- University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
- University of Louisville – Louisville, KY
- USC Thornton School of Music – Los Angeles, CA
- Music Tech College - St. Paul, MN
- California Jazz Conservatory - Berkeley, CA
- Cal State University Northridge – Northridge, CA
- Musicians Institute - Hollywood, CA
- Los Angeles College of Music - Pasadena, CA
- The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts - Queens, NY
- Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts - Las Vegas, NV
- Long Beach Polytechnic High School – Long Beach, CA
- Grove School of Music – Van Nuys, CA
- MAINZ - Auckland, New Zealand
- National Guitar Summer Workshop - Lakeside, CT
- Strathclyde University - Glasgow, Scotland
- The London Music School – London, UK
- Musik Conservatorium, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- BORG Kunst Hochschule – Linz, Austria
- Musik Hochschule – Bremen, Germany
- Musik Hochschule - Köln, Germany
- Jazz & Rock Schule – Freiburg, Germany
- The Future Music School - Aschaffenburg, Germany
- Academy of Contemporary Music - Zurich, Switzerland
- CMCN – Nancy, France
- Musikk Instrument Akademiet - Sarpsborg, Norway