“David Potter believes in the balance needed to play music. He expresses musicality through great rhythm, swing, and attention to detail. He is one of the most talented young drummers on the scene today." Marcus Roberts
A native of North Carolina, Dave began playing drum set in high school and starting performing with his elders in the Triangle area at the age of 16. Following his graduation from Florida State University, he was chosen from a national pool of applicants to be a member of the Louis Armstrong Quintet at the University of New Orleans. Unfortunately, the tragedy of hurricane Katrina temporarily ended his hopes for a career in Louisiana. Soon after, Dave was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Julliard Jazz Program in New York City. However, after several days of intense meditation he declined the offer and returned to Florida State University, where he received his Master’s Degree after further collaboration with his mentor Marcus Roberts. In 2010, Potter was featured in a novel entitled "The New Face of Jazz" about the younger generation of Jazz musicians making an impact in the current scene. Dave is now located in Atlanta where he maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule while also touring the globe as a member of The Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet as well as his new project as a leader, Retro Groove.
Performance Highlights
North Sea Jazz Festival
Wien Jazz Fest, Austria
Vitoria Jazz Fest, Spain
Warsaw Summer Jazz Days
Barquisimeto Jazz Festival
Marian's Jazz Room, Switz
Half Note Jazz Club, Greece
Blue Note Milano, Italy
Blue Note Napa Valley
Blue Note, Beijing, China
Bird's Basement, Austrailia
St. Barth’s Music Festival, French Territory
Detroit Jazz Festival
Kuumbwa Jazz
JEN Annual Conferences
IAJE Conferences-CA & Tor
Vancouver Jazz Festival
Victoria Jazz Festival, Canada
Rochester Jazz Festival, NY
Caramoor Jazz Festival, NY
Snug Harbor, New Orleans
Nighttown Cleveland, OH
Sculler’s Boston, MA
Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN
Trane Studios Toronto
Tula’s Jazz Seattle, WA
Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Manhattan, NY
Catalina's Los Angeles, CA
Iridium Jazz Club, NY, NY
Jazz Showcase Chicago, IL
Dazzle Denver, CO
Yoshi's San Francisco, CA
Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Regatta Bar, Boston, MA
Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Detroit
Blue Whisp, Cincinnati, OH
Anthology, San Diego, CA
Jazz Standard, New York
Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis
Jazz Alley, Seattle
Blues Alley, Washington D.C
Minton's Playhouse, NYC
SF Jazz Center, San Francisco
Jack London Review, Portland
Museum of Making Music, CA
Smalls Jazz Club, NYC
Savannah Jazz Festival, GA
Big Ears Festival, TN
Jazz Cave, NAshville, TN
Century Room, Tucson, AZ
Recordings and Performances with (abbreviated)
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet
Marcus Roberts
Vincent Gardner
Marcus Printup
Ellis Marsalis
Wessell Anderson
Lew Soloff
Greg Tardy
Delbert Felix
Fred Wesley
Charles Craig
Russell Gunn
Eric Reed
Marcus Belgrave
Takana Miyamoto
Martin Bejerano
Brice Winston
Eric Wyatt
Doug Carn (of Earth, Wind, and Fire)
Ricky Luis (of N'Klabe)
Jose “Papo" Carasco (Pianist for Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez)
Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Masterclasses and Clinics
Oberlin Conservatory
University of North Florida
Arizona State University
Broward College
Fullerton College
Humber College, Toronto
University of New Orleans
Michigan State University
Florida State University
Florida A&M University
Conservatorio Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Spellman College
Emory University
Osceola School for the Arts
Durham School of the Arts
North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina
Eastern Illinois University
Southwestern University
Central Washington University
Sacramento State University
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Savannah Music Festival