Dave Sear: I Always Thought My Thoughts Were Me (UBU0118)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of trombonist Dave Sear for the release of his album, I Always Thought My Thoughts Were Me, on 9th September 2022.

Born in Luton, Dave started playing the trombone at the age of eight. He gained a place at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2012 and graduated with a First Class Degree (BMus Hons) in July 2016. He has been a freelance trombonist since, and in January 2021 Dave became an official artist for B.A.C trombones. In the spring of 2022, only six years after graduating, Dave joined the faculty at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire teaching jazz trombone.

Dave is heavily involved with the Birmingham jazz scene and plays regularly with multiple jazz bands. He gigs full time across the UK with a variety of bands including NOLA brass, ska, jazz small bands and jazz big bands. He is more than comfortable in a plethora of styles but feels at home playing jazz.

Dave was delighted to attend the Englesholm Winter Jazz Camp in Denmark in 2015 where he studied with jazz legends such as Dick Oatts, Jeff Ballard and James Genus. During his time at the Birmingham Conservatoire Dave was coached by jazz greats such as Jeff Williams, Mark Turner, John Riley, Elliot Mason, Mark Nightingale and George Colligan and was taught regularly by Jeremy Price, Ashley Horton, Hans Koller and Percy Pursglove.  

In recent years, Dave has been lucky enough to perform at many prestigious venues and festivals such as Ronnie Scott's, The Vortex, Glastonbury Festival, Bestival, Shambala, Boomtown, Cork Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Birmingham Symphony Hall as well as a number of others.

Dave also made it through to the Top 20 in the 2016 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition.

I Always Thought My Thoughts Were Me is Dave’s first album. He explains the thinking behind the music: “The music I’ve composed and arranged for my debut album was influenced by my lifelong journey with anxiety and OCD. During the Covid lockdown period I had a lot more time to think, and overthink, and it really dawned on me that so many people struggle with the same issues as me, even though I always used to think my thoughts were ‘normal’. This inspired me to write some music which therefore finally made me feel ready to release my debut album. I reflect on the harder aspects of living with these issues, as well as the positive, embracing good times and thanking many people/places that have been of significant help throughout. Jazz music has been a great friend and of continual support throughout the last decade of my life and I wanted to recognise that in this music too. I have combined completely original compositions, contrafacts on some relevant standards and two arrangements of tunes that were meaningful to me over the years. I’ve never been great with words, and I seem to make the most sense through the trombone, so this album is my acknowledgement of appreciation to the music, my friends, my family and to everyone who’s taken the time to listen to me.”

Dave shares his perspective on the composition of his band: “I had this quintet in mind whilst writing the music and I feel extremely grateful and fortunate to have had the opportunity to play and record with them all. It’s an absolute honour to have Percy Pursglove playing trumpet alongside me, and I am forever thankful for his lessons and advice when he taught me back at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Elliott Sansom is not just one my all-time favourite piano players, but one of my all-time favourite musicians, and I’m so excited that he’s on my debut album. I was lucky enough to study alongside him and he has always been a source of constant inspiration. James Owston is one of the best bass players I know, and I have been fortunate enough to play with him for many years now. His hook-up with Jim Bashford on drums is special, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Jim’s playing and his dedication to the music, so the two of them were always in mind for this recording. I can’t thank my band enough for their patience and support, and of course their musicianship and respect for the music.”

Dave concludes with his comments regarding the relationship with his new record label: “I am absolutely delighted to be releasing my debut album with Ubuntu Music and I can’t thank Martin Hummel enough for having me on board, and for helping me throughout this process. It means more than I can put into words to have my music and my playing released to the world on such a great label, alongside some of the world’s best jazz musicians.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, provides his thoughts: “From the first time I had a listen to the rough mixes, I was immediately struck by the seemingly effortless swinging sound the guys delivered. That, combined with unique combination of trumpet and trombone upfront made this a natural for the label. We are so happy to have Dave join the Ubuntu Music Family.”