Dave Dallwitz was an Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 pianist

Pianist

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

, bandleader

Bandleader

A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....

 and composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

 in both the ragtime

Ragtime

Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...

 and dixieland

Dixieland

Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...

 idioms. He was born in Freeling, South Australia

Freeling, South Australia

Freeling is a small town in South Australia, about 60 km north of Adelaide. It neighbours the Barossa Valley wine region. At the 2006 census, Freeling had a population of 1,325....

. He is perhaps best known for having worked with some of Australia's more progressive musicians such as John Sangster

John Sangster

John Sangster was an Australian jazz composer, arranger, drummer, cornettist and Vibraphonist born in Melbourne, most well known as a composer though also a gifted multi-instrumentalist...

, Bob Barnard and Len Barnard. He also leads the Dave Dallwitz Ragtime Ensemble.

Career

Dallwitz was an exponent of both Ragtime Music and 1920s Big Band Music. A highlight of Dave's career was the appearance of his Big band with added Sydney and Brisbane musicians at the Esso Jazz Summit on Sydney's Bondi Beach in 1986. The band's set was shown on ABC TV and was released on ABC Records.

The band comprised:

• Dave Dallwitz (Piano, arranger, leader)
• Gregory Englert(Lead Trumpet)
• Cliff Reese (2nd Trumpet)
• John Roberts (3rd Trumpet)
• Doc Willis (Trombone)
• Paul Baker (Banjo)
• John Roberts (Sousaphone)
• Bryan Kelly (Drums) and the saxophone section:
• Trevor Rippingale (1st Alto Saxophone and Clarinet)
• Paul Furniss
  Paul Furniss
  Paul Furniss is an Australian jazz musician who has been recognised internationally. He is regarded as one of Australia's best jazz musicians. He is a noted clarinetist and saxophonist but can play a number of instruments including clarinet, flute, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. -Early...
  
  (2nd Alto Saxophone and clarinet)
• John McCarthy (3rd Tenor Saxophone and clarinet)
• Tich Bray (Featured clarinet)

Death

Dallwitz died on 24 March 2003 in Adelaide after just finishing the art work for his album The Dave Dallwitz Big Band live at Wollongong, December 1984.

This album was the result of the band's second appearance at the Australian Jazz Convention, Wollongong in 1984 and was mastered and co-produced by trumpeter Greg Englert who was lead trumpet for the concert.

The band for that album was:

• Dave Dallwitz (Piano, arranger, leader)
• Gregory Englert (Lead Trumpet)
• John Roberts (2nd Trumpet)
• Graeme Eames (3rd Trumpet)
• Deryck Bentley (Trombone)
• Peter Hooper (Banjo)
• Brian Green (Sousaphone)
• Bryan Kelly (Drums)
• Trevor Rippingale (1st Alto Saxophone and Clarinet)
• Bob Cruickshanks(2nd Alto Saxophone and clarinet)
• Paul Furniss (3rd Tenor Saxophone and clarinet)
• Tich Bray (Featured clarinet)

Tenor Saxophonist John McCarthy passed away on 6 October, 2011.