DAVE NACHMANOFF

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Dave Nachmanoff saw Al Stewart live for the first time at Royal Albert Hall in London in 1985 and in 2006 came back and performed with him. At the age of ten he played with Libba Cotton (“Freight Train”). He’s led songwriting workshops for many groups, from German school children to the Silcocks, a family with 44 adopted boys. In addition, he’s a heckofa songwriter in styles ranging from folk to pop who’s sold over 15,000 recordings. Dave’s the father of two and writes custom songs for weddings and other special occasions. As a side player (guitar, piano, bass, accordion and more) he’s worked with Stewart on a regular basis as well as many others at hundreds of venues as far ranging as The Bottom Line, Glastonbury Festival, and the Edmonton Folk Festival. Oh, and he’s got a doctorate in Philosophy. That he earned in his spare time. Dave grew up in the 60’s and 70’s surrounded by the active folk scene of northern Virginia and Washington DC and inspired by Pete Seeger, country rock, early revival folk like the Kingston Trio and later on, 80’s new wave. Toss in a bit of Celtic folk-rock a la Fairport Convention and it’s clear how he got his rich melodic sound. He produced and played on Al Stewart’s newest, Uncorked. It’s an exciting live recording of Stewart’s songs, their guitars and voices so full and in sync you’ll swear it’s a whole band. In “News from Spain” Al Jokes that Dave had to duplicate Rick Wakeman’s piano solo and indeed he does, with a Spanish flair that ends in a flurry of notes. In “Carol,” he offers a rhythmic compliment to Al’s strumming, including a breath taking set of arpeggios that brings the crowd to their feet. “A bonus on every song is the fine guitar playing of Nachmanoff, who blends with Stewart’s guitar very well and adds considerable musical interest to the proceedings …” Mike O’Cull, RivetingRiffs.com. His latest CD, Step Up, released in 2011 - his first solo release in five years - was produced by Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Steve Morse), and features musicians Bob Malone (currently playing keyboards for John Fogerty), Ian Sheridan (former bassist for Jason Mraz) and Victor Bisetti (former drummer for Los Lobos), and vocalists Al Stewart, Rosemary Butler, John Wicks, and Liz Bligan. He’s got nine albums in all, including his first, Candy Shower, released in 1997. Get his CDs at www.davenach.com or from many outlets including CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and many more. With a personable style that’s adaptable to a variety of stages, he looks larger than life although he’s a vertically challenged five foot two (and no, he doesn’t have blue eyes). He’s that neighbor who always has a friendly wave but doesn’t keep you from dinner. You’ll probably forget about that meal anyway when he starts to tell his stories and sing his well-crafted tunes in a voice like an older Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) but a guitar style that’s more Mark Knopfler or Richard Thompson. And just as versatile too. He’s shared the stage with Cheryl Wheeler, Steve Forbert, The Pogues, America, Alison Krauss and many others. If you’re looking for a unique gift or a way to celebrate your wedding or other important event, ask Dave about writing you a custom song. It’ll be much more appreciated than another blender and it’ll be remembered for years. Just Plain Folks honored him with the 2001 Songwriter of the Year award. He was a finalist in the 2011 USA Songwriting Competition. For five consecutive years he was the Susan Lucci of the South Florida Folk Festival, earning a place as a finalist before winning Best Overall in 2002. SingOut! has praised his “… heartfelt, inspired songwriting … with a delivery both biting and assured.” He’s busy but he’s always got time for a fun gig and a good story. If you’re an artist who needs a side player, he’s your guy. Heck, he could be your entire band. Whether you’re a concert junkie, participating in one of his songwriting classes or listening to your custom song, you’ll walk away from your Dave Nachmanoff experience wondering why he hasn’t yet learned to play anything with his feet. Why not? He’s done everything else.