Adjunct Instructor of Music
Applied Bass, Jazz Combos

David Ruffels holds a Master of Music Degree from the State University of New York at Purchase, New York, as well as a Bachelors in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, both internationally acclaimed jazz study programs.

While at William Paterson, David studied bass and improvisation with Rufus Reid and Dr. Todd Coolman. He continued his acoustic bass studies with Dr. Coolman while attending S.U.N.Y. Purchase, New York., as a Master of Music degree candidate in the spring of 2002.

David has also studied jazz bass with: Steve LaSpina, Ron McLure, Harvie S., John Goldsby, Kermit Driscoll, Jeff Fuller, Dave Santoro, and John Patitucci. David’s classical bass training has included studies with Robert Black and Linda McKnight.
One recent project : from the spring of 2003 until the spring of 2005 he performed regularly with Israeli musicians Dekel Bor and drummer Nadav Snir as a member of the “Dekel Bor Trio”, working in New York City as well as touring throughout the East Coast. They recorded the CD: Stories and Tales, and spent time working with the grammy award winning producer Robert Sadin.

Another recent recording project was the CD*: Contrast to the Madness, with the “InSpirit Quartet”, a group Dave founded in the winter 2003 with saxophonist Derrick James. The quartet also includes guitarist Scott Hesse and Drummer Ernie Colon. Contrast to the Madness is the group’s debut CD comprised of 10 original compositions written and arranged by the members of the quartet. The CD was produced by Todd Barken, artistic coordinator for “Jazz at Lincoln Center” in Manhattan, New York.

David’s career has included performances in New York City nightclubs such as: Arthur’s Tavern, the Gishen CafÈ, CafÈ Creole, Sanctuary, Palmiera, Augie’s, Smoke, the Garage, the Internet CafÈ, the Knitting Factory, the 55 Bar, S.O.B.’s, the Green Room, Visiones, the Blue Note, Zinno’s, The West Bank Cafe, Freddy’s, Smith’s, and No. 28., Perch, Flute, Jezebel's, Bar 4, New York Open Center, The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Open Center, Central Synagogue, BRIC/Brooklyn Information & Culture studio, and on WBAI - 99.5fm.

Since the fall of 1998, David has been an Adjunct Instructor of Music at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut, teaching acoustic & electric jazz bass; classical bass; jazz combos; and jazz Improvisation. David has also taught both acoustic and electric bass at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as well as at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.
David’s involvement in jazz education has included assisting in the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University, as well as the Jazz For Teens Program under the guidance of bassist Rufus Reid, at the Newark Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey. David has worked with drummer Yoron Israel giving clinics and performances to students in elementary schools throughout New Jersey. In the summer of 2000, he assisted in the jazz workshop of the Lake Placid Institute in Lake Placid, N.Y..

SELECTED RECORDINGS:
inSpirit Quartet; CONTRAST TO THE MADNESS
David Ruffels Quartet/Quintet; ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
Dekel Bor Trio; STORIES AND TALES
Carol Sudhalter Quintet; IT'S TIME!

www.davidruffels.com

Contact: ruffelsd@wcsu.edu