The David Zoffer Differential
Boston, Massachusetts, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"David gets down and dirty on guitar to grand effect here... great interweaving vocals... throughout, everyone turns in stellar performances with great wit." - Phil McKenna
as bold as a true love that cannot be denied or dismissed...huge heart and soul behind the technical abilities...remarkable...one-of-a-kind in depth, substance and most important, emotion."
- Michael G. Nastos
"...a wondrous zone ...an amazed audience... funky, deep thoughtful and tasty." - Phil McKenna
Extraordinarily compelling...Boston's scene is made all the richer...rife with talent, musicality, and sheer fun...a stroke of brilliance...great music - Katie DeBonville
"highly distinctive and original-sounding...quite fascinating and engaging...an elaborate dialogue...excellent interweaving vocals and the very sophisticated tunes...intriguing album...intricate, complex structure...outstanding tracks...numerous shifts in mood and sonic color...The vocal interaction between Zoffer and Rajdulari is especially well-done...a fascinating recording that uses good old fashioned composing and arranging to create music that employs conventional rock band instrumentation, yet sounds unlike just about anything else on the pop scene these days. The dual lead vocals, arranged as a conversation, further enhances the sound...The musicianship is first-rate and the vocals, in addition to being really interesting, are also outstanding. It takes good singers to be able to perform this kind of material...it does not fit any category neatly. I suppose that "art rock" might be as close as any...for those with a taste for the unconventional...very impressive. - George Graham, public radio host WVIA-FM, 89.9, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton, PA, producer, music
“...picture Boris the Spider hanging on the wall at Joe's Garage, listening to a dizzying array of influences. It's jazzy, it's funky and it's groovy. It's a car driving erratically thru a city, taking unpredictable turns but seemingly fully aware of its destination. It's at once powerful, confusing, logical and welcoming...many varied ingredients coming together in the hands of very talented performers to make something new. Zoffer skillfully and smoothly handles the guitar as well as sharing vocal duties. Rajdulari adds a soulful style to her share of the vocals. And when I say these two share vocals, it's just that. Their duets are like a dialogue between two film characters...moving thru Jazz, Funk and Latin neighborhoods...There’s something here for everyone...presented in such a unique way” - Stephen Bailey
"Love your music, you guys have so much to offer."
Jon Shyer-Southern N. Hampshire Univ. music coordinator, writing about a performance given at The Last Chapter Christmas show. - Southern N. Hampshire Univ.
Discography
Full length Pop/Jazz Progressive Funk CD, Release,
distributed by MudHut.co.uk and Zofco Records to national radio through Evolution Promotions. Available at iTunes/CD Baby. Played all over college radio (esp. in the Northeast) featured on public radio.
David Zoffer & Adam Larrabee (jazz duo) Courage in Closeness: Live in Boston 2003 Zofco Records/distributed through North Country-available at itunes.com and cdbaby.com
(EP) Superbaby, 1999 Zofco Records (funk/progressive rock)
David Zoffer (jazz solo artist) double CD, The Beginning of the End Vols. 1 & 2, Zofco Records 1996 w/Luciana Souza, Eddie Gomez, Don Alias, Bob Moses, Stan Strickland, Jeremy Steig
Photos
Bio
If you like: Steely Dan, Jon Stewart, Prince, Robert Cray, Me’shell Ndegeocello, The Changes, Norah Jones, Stephen Colbert, Patricia Barber, Medeski Martin &Wood, Dave Chappelle, The Meters, Peter Gabriel, Chuck Klosterman and/or Paul Simon, then The David Zoffer Differential belongs in your playlist. The DZD’s classic influences include Stevie Wonder, The Police, Frank Zappa, and Joni Mitchell. The richly textured fusion of these styles creates the Flowtown sound the DZD has pioneered over the last five years.
The DZD full length CD, Release, has been released to college, public and jazz radio, and has reached top 10 and 20 positions in heavy rotation at stations across the country. Release is Zoffer’s third full-length CD and his first to have a national radio campaign through Evolution Promotions, who have worked for such artists as Sting and Brian Eno. Zoffer’s music has received international radio airplay across Europe and from Voice of America Radio. From his home base in Boston, Zoffer and The DZD have appeared for extensive interviews and live appearances on WGBH, WERS, WHRB, WICN, and his music has been on top ten lists from Arizona to Iceland and from Pittsburgh to Portugal. Zoffer has played colleges ranging from Stonehill College (upon winning the Boston Jazz Society award) and Harvard University in New England, to FIH Conservatory in Iceland. Zoffer’s music has been at home in many settings ranging from rock and funk clubs like Johnny D’s, Bill’s Bar, & the Lizard Lounge to packed performances at Jazz festivals from Boston’s Regattabar to Café Reykjavik and even classical venues like Jordan Hall. Zoffer has been a featured multi-instrumental soloist/composer/arranger at crossover concerts for the Boston Philharmonic and the Handel & Haydn Society at the Berklee Performance Center and Sanders Theater.
College Booking for the DZD is done through Boston Eventworks contact Kevin at kevin@bostoneventworks. Club Booking for The DZD is now handled by Alexa at Kollmar Presents. Contact her at booking@kollmarpresents.com
In addition to his performing career, Zoffer is also one of the leading lights in Jazz education. He has been department chair at the New England Conservatory (NEC) Prep and Continuing Ed. Jazz dept. since 1996. He is also on faculty at Berklee College of Music in the Contemporary Writing and Production department. In addition, he is a member of the Jazz Faculty at Tufts University. Zoffer has lectured internationally in the subjects of performance, composition, songwriting, improvisation, and Jazz. His students include Downbeat winners such as teen prodigy Grace Kelly (best Sax, Vocal, R&B and Composition for middle school students-unprecedented four categories in one year), Roland Davis (best composition for master’s degree students), and Bill Ward (best composition-high school students).
Zoffer has given workshops sponsored by colleges, teachers unions and music schools all over the world. He has done extensive workshops with students ranging in age from twelve to seventy and from beginners to seasoned professionals to teachers learning how to teach improvisation. David Zoffer has often given masterclasses on the same day of many of his performances. Zoffer’s unique background in performance on piano, guitar, bass, voice, saxophone, as well as composition/arranging give him a perspective that allows him to help many different kinds of students express themselves more clearly.
Band Members
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