[sonnymobleytrane]

I guess I was waiting for someone more eloquent then myself to post this.

David Alan Gross a great saxophone teacher, musician as well as a really great person passed away on May 7th.
I was recently taking lessons from David. I would take a 90 minute trip into Manhattan from Ct. I would fight traffic and suffer from road rage while I looked for parking. Sometimes I took the train. Then take the trip back. All for my 50 minute lesson. It Was IT Was THE HIGHLIGHT Of MY WEEK!
He called me 3 weeks ago to tell me he would not be teaching anymore because he had stage 4 cancer. After a couple of minutes on the phone I told him how I would pray for him and I was better not only as a saxophonist but for having known him although all too brief. We said our goodbyes at the end of which he said He would stay in touch.
I wish that I could had studied with him longer and wish that I Knew him better
As far as staying in touch I'm pretty sure I won't forget him

 

[DukeCity]

I guess I was waiting for someone more eloquent then myself to post this...I told him how I would pray for him and I was better not only as a saxophonist but for having known him although all too brief.

That's about as eloquent as it gets! I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[odsum25]

Those CD's he did with Bob Moses were very hip. A great player. RIP.

 

[Kritavi]

I enjoyed his playing on those and one of his solo cd's I heard. Bob Moses and I spoke about David a number of times and he always praised him as a person and player. Sad to hear of this.

 

[Tim Price]

TIMES SQUARE.....Gone in a HEART BEAT.

Gross was someone I'd see buying reeds...I'd remind him of the band he was in GAS MASK which was a late 60's early 70s rock-jazz ; jazz-rock band.

He was a quiet guy, nice and seemed like he was thru it all 1000x more than anyone. He taught a lot and his brilliance was the fact he had the strength to teach basic day-to-day and make it unique. He had..THE TOUCH. That IMHO is a lover of not only music....but people.

Sad in a way- cuz guys I know lived around the corner from him - NEVER had the pleasure of knowing him. He was one...of the ones. The real ones.
I hope he is remembered.....he really could play!!!
SAD.
I wish the world knew more about guys like him.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

4 years....Thought about him today.

 

[Holly Burke]

Hello - I was an avid flute student of David's in the early 70's...I too had the thrill of that weekly trip into the city and I know just what you mean. Over the past couple years, I had tried unsuccessfully to contact him, to share my latest recording with him. I'm in Vancouver. A NY friend looked into finding him for me and, I got the news yesterday...wow. Life really is fleeting. If anyone has a picture of David, I would treasure it. Was he still married? Any further information about this great man and teacher, would be greatly appreciated.
Peace to All,

Holly Burke
www.hollyburke.com

 

[Holly Burke]

Thank you Tim Price...well said. He loved people as well and played eloquently and passionately! I'd forgotten about Gas Mask - that's right...

 

[Captain Beeflat]

That's about as eloquent as it gets!

I could not agree more....a most moving story & very well expressed.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

Hello - I was an avid flute student of David's in the early 70's...I too had the thrill of that weekly trip into the city and I know just what you mean. Over the past couple years, I had tried unsuccessfully to contact him, to share my latest recording with him. I'm in Vancouver. A NY friend looked into finding him for me and, I got the news yesterday...wow. Life really is fleeting. If anyone has a picture of David, I would treasure it. Was he still married? Any further information about this great man and teacher, would be greatly appreciated.
Peace to All,

Holly Burke
www.hollyburke.com

Holly Just saw post.
There are some videos of David on YouTube.

 

[memnumoldum]

I too studied with David Gross when I lived in NY and your post is the first I've heard of his passing. He introduced me to a method of how to play jazz. He was an excellent teacher and human being as well as an amazing alto player. I remember thinking that his rent at his studio on the corner of 42nd and Broadway must have been through the roof and how did he do it charging what he did. I learned a lot from David and just want to say God bless and peace be with you.......