Exploration Jazz

Exploration Jazz is Dave's new original jazz/fusion project, with a rotating line-up of his favorite musicians. Their inaugural appearance on September 2025 at La Zingara's jazz series in Bethel CT was SRO, and they're returning on March 25 2026 to push the envelope further. Thierry Arpino and Rob Aries join Dave again and are joined for this upcoming show by Ken Gioffre on saxes. The line-up of Dave, Ken, Rob and Thierry were a unit for years as the Dave Anderson Group, and Dave's thrilled to reunite everyone for a new summit meeting.

The group's first show, with Premik Russell Tubbs (saxes), Rob Aries (kbd) and Thierry Arpino (drums) established a new direction for Dave as a creative artist in his own right, building on a number of self-led and co-led projects over the years. Dave composed all the material, drawing from both older pieces – including several he composed for theatrical productions – and brand new ones written specifically for the musicians joining him. Dave brought a carefully curated collection of instruments to enable a range of sound colors, including his NS electric upright bass, and an instrument he conceived and developed himself, the baritone piccolo bass – as well as his well-worn Sadowsky 5-string that's accompanied him around the world on countless tours and in numerous sessions.

"I'm looking foward to the process of discovery, both in the self-driven formative stages and in the kinetic interplay that flows from us and through us every time we do it," Dave said. "It's an incredible feeling to do something new, and at the same time have the comfort and familiarity of musicians you first played with decades ago," he added. "All I have to say to these guys after I've shown them the scores is say, 'You know what to do!' – and they'll add more than I ever could've written!"

Musicians

Exploration Jazz is a growing community of like-minded players. A quick look at who's been involved so far:

Thierry Arpino – drums: Jean Luc Ponty/Larry Coryell/Lisa Fischer

Premik Russell Tubbs – saxes: Mahavishnu Orchestra/Carlos Santana/Whitney Houston

Rob Aries – keys: Average White Band/John Scofield/Donald Harrison/Eliane Elias

Ken Gioffre – saxes: Nile Rogers & CHIC/Blood Sweat & Tears/Smokey Robinson