David Halliday
About
David Halliday’s roots stretch back to northern California. Born in Sacramento and raised in Vacaville, he studied with multi-Grammy Award-winning saxophone legend Joe Henderson at Henderson’s home in San Francisco while still a teen. David later studied with Tony Dagradi at Loyola University in New Orleans and Dr. Ray Smith at Brigham Young University.
His professional career began in Sacramento with guitarist/singer/songwriter Early Times, in San Jose with organist Chester E. Smith and Blue Note recording artist Eddie Gale, and in the Napa Valley with Delbert Bump and the Braxton Brothers, all while David was still in high school. In 1994 David moved to New Orleans and joined the legendary funk band Galactic, propelled by Stanton Moore's uniquely explosive drumming. He toured with Oakland's soul/blues diva E.C. Scott and her band Smoke in 1997-98 across the United States and in Athens, Greece.
Halliday has won such prestigious awards as the (only) Outstanding College Performer Award at the Reno International Jazz Festival in 1996, and the Outstanding Collegiate Tenor Saxophone Soloist award at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho each year, from 1999-2002.
Halliday is currently one of the most in-demand saxophonists and clinicians in the Mountain West, and performs worldwide with Party Crashers, No Limits, Metro Music Club, Marmalade Hill, and his own groups. He currently leads several bands including: The Number Ones (TNOs), The Jazz Vespers Quartet (JVQ), The New Orleans Project, and more. He is a co-musical director of the Jazz Vespers Concert series, a 30-year-old tradition that takes place on the last eight Sundays before Christmas at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Halliday and the JVQ host the Gracie’s Monday Night Jazz Jam every Monday night in downtown Salt Lake City where they have maintained residency since Spring of 2014. He has performed the national anthem at two Utah Jazz NBA games and two Real Salt Lake MLS games.
Videos
David Halliday performs with the Phil Kuehn Quartet at Jazz at the Rabbit Hole, Lake Effect cocktail lounge, Salt Lake City, Utah. With David Halliday - sax, Angelo Versace - piano, Phil Kuehn - bass, Joe Saylor - drums.
What does it take to be a successful musician? David Halliday shares his wisdom and extensive experience with the Utah State University music students on 9/27/2018.
