David Sills

International sensation David Sills continues to mesmerize audiences in Los Angeles and abroad. An established main-stay on the LA jazz scene since the mid-’90s, Sills has an original style and sound and has the unique ability to embrace the jazz tradition, while staying true to his own individual voice. Originally from the Los Angeles South Bay area, he has established himself as one of the premier jazz saxophonists in Southern California. He began playing woodwinds during his formative teenage years and has thereafter been devoted to continuing to hone and perfect his craft.

After graduating from high school, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from the California State University of Long Beach and a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York City. David has since had the privilege of touring throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia with his band, the aptly named David Sills Quartet, in addition to performing with David Benoit, The Acoustic Jazz Quartet, Line Up and The Liam Sillery Quintet. When David is not touring, he teaches private woodwinds and jazz improvisation at Pasadena City College and Cypress College. He directs a big band at El Camino College as well as providing lessons in saxophone, flute, and clarinet from his own private studio. David is a Vandoren Performing artist and plays Vandoren Reeds and Mouthpieces.

David was recently featured at the KJazz summer benefit concert at Disney Concert Hall performing alongside David Benoit, Dianne Schuur, Steve Tyrell, and Christian Scott.

What people say:

los-angeles-times

“The playing of tenor saxophonist David Sills has been described as a meeting of Stan Getz and Joe Henderson, a style in which smooth reserve and technical ability combine in a single cool-to-the-bone sound.”

– LA Times

Jazztimes

“He Produces a smooth velvety tone as Getz did and he often weaves long, serpentine, Marsh-like lines…Sills proves to be a warmly expressive player on ballads.”

– Jazz Times

“Like Paul Desmond and Stan Getz, Sills has a warm tone, light attack, perfect technique and he never runs out of ideas”

– – LA Jazz Scene

london times

“It is saxophonist David Sills who really impresses, his smooth, warm sound the perfect complement to Jamie Findlay’s guitar playing”

– London Times

Jazz Society of Oregon

“Sills is a dedicated LA cat whose playing warrants one of those ‘where has he been all my life’ responses.”

– Jazz Society of Oregon

Review: Eastern View – All About Jazz

David Sills: Eastern View (2004) By DAN MCCLENAGHAN, Published: December 12, 2004 With a solid organ trio backing him, tenor…

Review: Green – All About Jazz

David Sills: Green By Dan McClenaghan With tenor saxophonist David Sills, three big “s” words come to mind: Swinging, soulful,…

Review: The Sweetest Melody – Jazz Society of Oregon

THE SWEETEST MELODY by George Fendel The Sweetest Melody, David Sills, tenor sax, Michael Kanan, piano. Another believer in the…

Review: Bigs – JazzReview

Bigs by David Sills By Craig W. Hurst In the parlance of some, “The Bigs” refers to making the…

Review: Bigs – All About Jazz

David Sills: Bigs (2002) By JACK BOWERS, Published: September 1, 2002 Naxos’ press release calls tenor saxophonist David Sills “a unique composite…

Review: Stay Cool – JazzTimes

Brent Jensen / David Sills Quartet: Stay Cool By David Franklin Although many younger players look to the hard-bop of the…

Review: Down the Line – JazzReview

The five Sills’ originals demonstrate his versatility and the empathy between him and Foster whether playing off one another or playing as one. This is particularly true of “Cuttin’ Back,” which builds on a strong bass figure, and the bopper, “It’s All You,” with its contrapuntal sax duet. The title cut frees the group to romp through those “Rhythm” changes. Beautiful interplay on the soulful “Slow Joe” (Sills and Broadbent) and the Latin-tinged “Eastern View” (Sills and Koonse).

Review: Green – Audiophile Audition

David Sills: Green By Jeff Krow A Win-Win Proposition **** Purchasing the new CD by tenor saxist, David Sills, is…

Review: The Acoustic Jazz Quartet

By Dave Nathan Working together in Southern California since 1996, the maiden album of the Acoustic Jazz Quartet features a…

Review: Organic – All About Jazz

Organic is the perfect follow-up to the band’s original release. This is an airtight ensemble making rarified music. Highly Recommended.

Review: Down the Line – All About Jazz

One of the great things about jazz is that there’s always room for persuasive new voices, especially those who’ve mastered the vocabulary and know how to swing. Saxophonist David Sills, now in his mid-thirties, qualifies easily on both counts, as he shows consistently on Down the Line, evidently his second album as a leader of his own group, although Sills has recorded with a number of other first-rank musicians.