Jazz musician/singer David Paquette tells Marie Benoit a little about his life and a little more about his colourful career
David was born in Connecticut but was introduced to the music of New Orleans at an early age. Due to his parents’ musical background his family home was often full of musicians and as a teenager he had the privilege to experience a number of jam sessions with musicians like Kid Sheik, Louis Nelson, Sammy Penn, Billie and Dede Pierce, right in their living room. Frequent family holidays to New Orleans resulted in his family moving to the city and this inspired David to teach himself to play the piano. They had an old player piano (a pianola) at home and he used to follow it to learn the chords.
Slowly David moved West in the States where he ended with a job in the famous Boarding House in San Francisco where he opened for Bette Middler, the Pointer Sisters, Dr John and Taj Mahal and comedian Steve Martin. For a number of years he also worked in the Pioneer Inn in Hawaii where he met people like Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Loggins and Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie who produced David’s first Album and he went on to record over 50 CDs. His work put him on the same stage as Woody Allen, Phil Collins, Joe Cocker and B.B.King.
Since the early 1980’s David has toured extensively playing in major Jazz Festivals around the world which led him to settle down in New Zealand. There he launched the Waiheke Jazz Festival and organized it for 16 consecutive years. The festival has become a five day extravaganza showcasing some fabulous international jazz musicians and attracting over 20,000 fans annually.
Today, David spends his time in his homes in New Zealand, Switzerland and Valletta, plays regularly in Jazz Festivals and manages the Paquette Jazz Foundation, a charitable trust which provides scholarships for young musicians.
This evening is your last chance to hear David Paquette perform while Rupert Cefai will be interpreting David’s jazz using paint and canvas. This is a collaborative event between a Jazz musician/singer and a painter. It will take place between 8pm and 10.30pm at the Palm Court Lounge, Hotel Phoenicia, Valletta. Entrance is free.
I have no immediate family, my friends all over the world are my family.
I love eating … all day long
When I have some time to spare I enjoy travelling
My favourite holiday destination is the world.
One living person I admire is Stephen Fry.
A character in fiction I like very much is Popeye.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be… I am happy as I am!
The writers I like best are dead.
My dream job is… never thought about jobs because my work is my passion.
My kind of music is anything that is played from the heart.
If I won the lottery I would spend it.
My motto is ‘We’re all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.’