David Van Kriedt
The Jazzbacks.com website is dedicated to David Van Kriedt.
Not only was Dave Van Kriedt a tremendously influential musician of his time and a great tenor player and a much loved teacher of many fine and famous musicians, he is also my father and the single biggest musical influence on my life.
Some of my earliest memories are of looking at a huge double bass that we had in our house and my father telling me that it was mine. I was never force fed music but it was always there in the background.
I would come home from school to find our house full of musicians jamming or rehearsing. And not just any musicians. Paul Desmond, Stan Kenton, Lee Konnitz, Dave Brubeck, … these were just some of my father’s friends that I met as a kid.
As I grew up and found my own directions in music he was always there ready to answer my questions. He taught me harmony and gave me some invaluable ear training when I was young. But most of all he kept throwing me into the deep end in various musical situations and I have to thank him for that.
Even today, nearly 10 years after his death, he is my biggest inspiration.
Larry Van Kriedt (2004)
Further Information
Discography of David Van Kriedt >
Read Phil Wright's article about Dave Van Kriedt >