# Dave Cliff

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For the professor of computer science, see [Dave Cliff (computer scientist)](/source/Dave_Cliff_(computer_scientist)).

**Dave Cliff** (born 25 June 1944) is a British jazz guitarist.

## Career

Cliff was born in [Hexham](/source/Hexham), [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland).[1][2] In 1967, he moved to [Leeds](/source/Leeds) and gained a diploma in jazz studies from [Leeds College of Music](/source/Leeds_College_of_Music) while studying with bassist [Peter Ind](/source/Peter_Ind) and [Bernie Cash](/source/Bernie_Cash).[1] Ind became a mentor to him. At Leeds Cliff was influenced by listening to the music of [Lennie Tristano](/source/Lennie_Tristano).[2] In 1971, after moving to London,[1][3] Cliff became established on the local scene.[1] During 1976–1977 he toured the UK with [Lee Konitz](/source/Lee_Konitz) and [Warne Marsh](/source/Warne_Marsh), both students of Tristano and familiar to Ind.[2] During the next year Cliff toured the UK with Soprano Summit ([Kenny Davern](/source/Kenny_Davern) and [Bob Wilber](/source/Bob_Wilber)).[1] Beginning in the 1980s, he worked increasingly as a freelance musician.

He recorded his first solo album, *The Right Time*, in 1987 with [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins) on alto saxophone. With Simkins he also recorded *West Coast Blues* (1991) (cassette only), *Sippin' at Bell's* (1994) and *The Music of Tadd Dameron* (1996).[2]

Cliff has appeared frequently at [Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club](/source/Ronnie_Scott's_Jazz_Club) in varied settings.[3] He has worked with [Harry Allen](/source/Harry_Allen_(musician)), [Mike Carr](/source/Mike_Carr_(musician)), [Buddy Childers](/source/Buddy_Childers), [Richie Cole](/source/Richie_Cole_(musician)), [Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis](/source/Eddie_%22Lockjaw%22_Davis), [Phil DeGreg](/source/Phil_DeGreg), [Georgie Fame](/source/Georgie_Fame), [Allan Ganley](/source/Allan_Ganley), [Herb Geller](/source/Herb_Geller), [Scott Hamilton](/source/Scott_Hamilton_(musician)), [Ken Peplowski](/source/Ken_Peplowski), [Bucky Pizzarelli](/source/Bucky_Pizzarelli), [Irene Reid](/source/Irene_Reid), [Spike Robinson](/source/Spike_Robinson), [Nina Simone](/source/Nina_Simone), [Lew Tabackin](/source/Lew_Tabackin), [Warren Vaché](/source/Warren_Vach%C3%A9_Jr.) and [Cedric West](/source/Cedric_West).[1]

In 1998 Cliff won the BT Jazz Awards in the guitar category.

Around 2015 Cliff retired from professional playing on the grounds of [Parkinson's disease](/source/Parkinson's_disease).

## Influences

Cliff's influences on guitar include [Charlie Christian](/source/Charlie_Christian), [Wes Montgomery](/source/Wes_Montgomery), and [Lennie Tristano](/source/Lennie_Tristano), whose influence he encountered when working and studying with Peter Ind.

## Teaching

Cliff has taught at [Royal Birmingham Conservatoire](/source/Royal_Birmingham_Conservatoire), [Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama](/source/Royal_Welsh_College_of_Music_%26_Drama) in Cardiff,[3] [Trinity College of Music](/source/Trinity_College_of_Music) in London, Original UK Jazz Summer School, [Jamey Aebersold](/source/Jamey_Aebersold) Summer School in London, and Kristiansand in Norway.

## Discography

### As leader

- 1987 *The Right Time* with [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins) (Miles Music)
- 1991 *West Coast Blues* with [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins)
- 1995 *Sipping at Bells* with [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins) (Spotlite)
- 1997 *The Dave Cliff Geoff Simkins 5 Play the Music of Tadd Dameron* with [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins) (Spotlite)
- 1998 *Tribute to Paul Desmond* with Mark Ramsden ([33 Records](/source/33_Records))
- 1998 *When Lights Are Low* (Zephyr)
- 2004 *Tranzatlantic Interplay* with [Phil DeGreg](/source/Phil_DeGreg) (Strugglebaby)

### As sideman

**With [Warne Marsh](/source/Warne_Marsh)**

- 1977 *[Live at the Montmartre Club: Jazz Exchange Vol. 2](/source/Live_at_the_Montmartre_Club:_Jazz_Exchange_Vol._2)* with [Lee Konitz](/source/Lee_Konitz) (Storyville, 1977)

**With [Bob Wilber](/source/Bob_Wilber)**

- 1994 *[the warren vache quintet: Jazz at the Amerika Haus Hamburg, Volume 2](/source/The_warren_vache_quintet:_Jazz_at_the_Amerika_Haus_Hamburg,_Volume_2)* Nagel-Heyer Records
- 1995 *The Hamburg Concert*
- 1995 *Tribute to Coleman Hawkins*
- 1995 *A Man and His Music*

**With others**

- 1985 *The Dirty Bopper*, [Bruce Turner](/source/Bruce_Turner)
- 1989 *[Porcelain](/source/Porcelain_(Julia_Fordham_album))*, [Julia Fordham](/source/Julia_Fordham)
- 1997 *Christmas Love Song*, [Scott Hamilton](/source/Scott_Hamilton_(musician))
- 1998 *Days of Wine and Roses*, [Tony Coe](/source/Tony_Coe)
- 2004 *The Anglo/American/Scottish Connection*, [Jimmy Deuchar](/source/Jimmy_Deuchar)
- 2008 *Conversation*, [Geoff Simkins](/source/Geoff_Simkins)

## References

1. Yanow, Scott (2013). *The Great Jazz Guitarists*. San Francisco: Backbeat. pp. 46–46. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.

1. Mathieson, Kenny (1999). "The British Scene". *Masters of Jazz Guitar*. 1st British ed. Balafon. p. 166. ISBN 0-87930-592-4.

1. Flynn, Mike. ["Dave Cliff - Guitar"](http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/features/jazzwise-the-player/11764-dave-cliff-guitar). *www.jazzwisemagazine.com*. Retrieved 4 March 2019.

## Sources

[John Chilton](/source/John_Chilton), *Who's Who of British Jazz*, London: Cassell, 1997. ISBN 0-8264-7234-6

## External links

- [Dave Cliff's website](https://www.facebook.com/davecliffjazzguitar/)
- [More information about Dave Cliff](https://web.archive.org/web/20060221080119/http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/davecliff/davepage.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dave Cliff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Cliff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Cliff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.