The David Occhipinti Quartet

David Occhipinti – guitar
Michael Davidson – vibraphone
Dan Fortin – bass
Terry Clarke – drums

David Occhipinti is a composer, guitarist, and a long-standing contributor to the Canadian music scene. David’s musical accomplishments have earned him two Chalmers Arts Fellowships, as well as multiple JUNO nominations for his work as a recording artist. His critically acclaimed album Forty Revolutions was nominated in 2007; Duologue, in collaboration with saxophonist Mike Murley, in 2003. David has also performed on other JUNO nominated recordings.

Camera, (2012) is a recording that features David’s chamber music compositions and guitar improvisations. It was heralded by his mentor, Jim Hall as: “an absolute gem… his writing is unique, his playing is completely original and stunning… an absolute work of art!”

The 2019 release, these out of infinite, features David’s works for the voice with text by Dylan Thomas, James Joyce, e.e. cummings, T.S. Elliot, Emily Carr, Emily Brontë, and Emily Dickinson. Fanfare magazine wrote, “Occhipinti’s settings are stellar and hypnotic….like George Crumb… sheer delight. It breathes freshness and clarity.”

David’s first orchestral work, Saturnia (2022), was part of the Toronto Symphony’s ‘Explore the Score’ program which took place on October 22, 2022 at Roy Thomson Hall.
David received a commission from the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra to compose a piece for brass and percussion. The premiere performance of En Passant was in Ottawa on May 1st, 2022 with Jean-Michel Malouf conducting.
A world premiere recording of Net of Gems, for flute and harp, appears on a recent recording by Suzanne Shulman and Erica Goodman. David has also had his compositions commissioned or recorded by a wide-ranging list of artists- including percussionist Beverley Johnston, Arraymusic Ensemble, Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, and Random Access Large Ensemble.

David has performed and toured across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Japan. He has performed Canadian premieres of works by Steve Reich and Gabriel Prokofiev. David has been based in Toronto for most of his career, but during the 1990s he also spent some time studying in New York City with Jim Hall, and three years living in Italy.

David’s atmospheric compositions easily cross musical borders, creating a unique musical world.