Dave Kikoski (born September 29, 1961) is an American jazz pianist and keyboardist.
Biography Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Kikoski learned piano from his father in Milltown, New Jersey, and played with him in bars as a teenager. He studied at the Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s, then moved to New York City in 1985, touring and recording subsequently with Roy Haynes (from 1986), Randy Brecker (1986–88), Bob Berg (1988), and Billy Hart (1989). He has also played or recorded with George Garzone, Barry Finnerty, Red Rodney, Craig Handy, Ralph Moore, Didier Lockwood, Joe Locke, Olivier Ker Ourio and Mingus Big Band. Kikoski had a Grammy nomination with Roy Haynes for the "Birds of a Feather" CD.
Kikoski has been a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey."The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats", The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2003, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 27, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Dave Kikoski -- An invigorating pianist and composer, Kikoski lives in Jersey City."
Discography
As leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1989PresageFreelanceTrio, with Eddie Gomez (bass), Al Foster (drums)1991Persistent DreamsTrilokaWith Randy Brecker (trumpet), Cecilia Tenconi (flute), Dave Jensen (tenor sax), Vadim Zilbershtein (guitar), Ed Howard (acoustic bass), James Genus (electric bass), Billy Hart and Ben Perowsky (drums), Alex Acuña (percussion), Vera Mera (vocals)1994Dave KikoskiEpicTrio, with Essiet Essiet (bass), Al Foster (drums)1997Inner TrustCriss CrossTrio, with Ed Howard (bass), Leon Parker (drums)1998The MazeCriss CrossQuartet, with Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)1999Almost TwilightCriss CrossTrio, with John Patitucci (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2001Surf's UpCriss CrossTrio, with James Genus (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2001The FiveDIWQuintet, with Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Boris Kozlov (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2001Comfortable StrangeDIWTrio, with Boris Kozlov (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2001CombinationsCriss CrossWith Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Boris Kozlov (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2003DetailsCriss CrossTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)2005LimitsCriss CrossQuartet, with Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Larry Grenadier (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)2006Lighter WayApriaTrio, with Ed Howard (bass), Victor Lewis (drums)2008Mostly StandardsCriss CrossTrio, with Eric Revis (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2008Live at SmallsSmalls LiveTrio, with Hans Glawischnig (bass), Obed Calvaire (drums); in concert2012ConsequencesCriss CrossTrio, with Christian McBride (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)2013?From the HipBFMQuartet2016KayemodeCriss CrossTrio, with Joe Martin (bass), Justin Faulkner (drums)2019Phoenix RisingHighNoteQuartet with Eric Alexander (tenor sax), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)2021Sure ThingHighNoteDuo with Boris Kozlov (bass)2025Weekend at SmallsCellar LiveQuartet with Randy Brecker (trumpet), Joe Martin (bass), Billy Hart (drums)
with BeatleJazz A Bite of the Apple (Zebra, 1999) Another Bite of the Apple (Zebra, 2001) With a Little Help From Our Friends (Lightyear, 2005) All You Need is Love (Lightyear, 2007)
with Opus 5 Introducing Opus 5 (Criss Cross, 2011) Pentasonic (Criss Cross, 2012) Progression (Criss Cross, 2013) Tickle (Criss Cross, 2014) Swing On This (Criss Cross, 2021)
As sideman With Roy Haynes True or False (Freelance, 1986) When It's Haynes It Roars! (Dreyfus Jazz, 1992) Homecoming (Evidence, 1994) Te Vou! (Dreyfus Jazz, 1994) Praise (Dreyfus Jazz, 1998) Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker (Dreyfus Jazz, 2001) – Grammy nominated Love Letters (Eighty-Eight's, 2002)
With Billy Hart Amethyst (Arabesque, 1993) Oceans of Time (Arabesque, 1997)
With others Richard Baratta, Off the Charts (Savant, 2023) Bob Berg, Another Standard (Stretch, 1997) Pe De Boi, Power Samba Band (Arkadia Jazz, 1998) Craig Handy, Introducing Three for All + One (Arabesque, 1993) Toninho Horta, From Ton To Tom (VideoArts Music, 1998) Dave Lisik, Bonnie and Clyde (SkyDeck Music, 2017) Ralph Moore, 623 C Street (Criss Cross, 1987) Pat Martino, Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (Blue Note, 2006) – rec. 2005 Alexander Claffy, Standards: What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? (SMK Jazz, 2018) Klemens Marktl Trio Live In Austria(Fresh Sound Records 2021) Pulse Smack Dab (Fresh Sound New Talent 2025)
References
Mark Gilbert, "Dave Kikoski". Grove Jazz online. [ Discography] at Allmusic
External links