Saxophonist, composer and producer David Mullen (AKA "Mahoney") is a truly unique voice on his instrument, blending a long lineage of players into a vital and original style.
David first became interested in playing through his father's extensive collection of 45s and LPs from his DJing days in the late 50s and early 60s. "I remember fingering through his collection of jazz, early R&B, and rock n' roll, and just loving the feel and energy of those recordings.The sax was so dominant in all of the styles of music that were happening then and I think that's what drew me in to the sound of it." As a child prodigy, he traveled to Paris and Canada at the age of 14 and was recognized early on for his musical prowess, garnishing awards that included a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. While enrolled, he studied with the "guru" of woodwind teachers Joe Viola(RIP), along with George Garzone, Bill Pierce and Andy McGhee.
After graduating, David won the 1988 Boston music awards and moved to New York shortly there after. That relocation turned out to be a fruitful one, soon performing locally and abroad. Some of his credits include appearing on MTV, Live @ Five, CBS, the Fox network and writing for PBS.
While in New York, Dave found himself in the company of now Rock n' Roll Hall of fame members, the original Funkateers, Eddie Hazel, Billy "Bass" Nelson, Jerome “Flashlight†Brailey and others. "That was like going to school for me. Those cats have such a divine sense of playing in the pocket. I loved just listening to Eddie warm up. He's the guy that created that sound which all later P-Funk records mined from." Mahoney also did Eddie's last gig in Atlantic City.
Presently, Dave is forging ahead performing, writing, producing and continuing to push the envelope with his musical vision. He has a new album coming out "MAHONEYâ€S WAY†which will also feature Nile Rodgers, Marc Egan, Marc Ribot, Victor Jones, Abe Fogle, Lisala Beatty, Courtney Bradley and the True Fellowship Gospel Choir who have been seen backing up Mariah Carey lately."I wanted to do a record that was timeless, something you could play in 15 years it and would still sound fresh. I particularly had Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On†as model of a song being that’s able to trancend time with it’s message and can be applied to any era.â€
In addition, Dave has performed and/or recorded with Roy Ayers, Nile Rodgers, The Brand New Heavies, P-Funk, Groove Collective, Blue Man Group, Gil Scott Heron, Delfeayo Marsalis, Robin Eubanks, Marc Ribot, Victor Jones, John Hicks , Mark Egan, Danny Gottlieb, Brian Jackson, Mood 2 Swing, G Love and Special Sauce, The Jesus Lizard, Firewater, Slick Rick and others.
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