David Priest

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Photos above by Dee Lippingwell

J. T. 'Ted' Priest began his teaching career in Fosmill, Ontario

In 1967 he retired in David's home town of Stratford, Ontario as Board of Education's Music Supervisor.

'J.T' and the crew of Stratford Collegiate Vocational Institute - circa 1930

The Stratford Shakespearean Festival

David spent his teen summers as an usher at the Festival

David was immersed in music as he was growing up.

He began private classical piano lessons at the tender age of five with Mrs. Audrey Conroy

Audrey Conroy

During the next thirteen years she patiently developed and fine-tuned David's innate talent, never failing to guide his gift along the right path with her gentle manner and encouragement.

And many times under her bemused eye, a sonata or a polonaise or a lullaby would trail off into David's own versions of the masters' works.

And the best part is that he was allowed to do so.

Beethoven

Debussy

Rachmaninoff

Chopin

Bach

Beethoven is an original drawing given to me by James Picard Vancouver's internationally acclaimed artist

Audrey was a tremendous inspiration simply by being herself, but she also inspired by opening up other avenues of music to explore, including many modern composers' works......

December 24th, 2007 - Canada and the entire musical world will miss you tremendously, Oscar.

Ahmad Jamal

Lyle Mays

Sir George Shearing

Developing his style

David would often be found playing along with his jazz mentors' recordings.

He has the wonderful gift of being able to play a song

after hearing a tune a few times.

In listening to the tune and the artist's ideas,

he would then develop his licks and phrases to develop the David Priest style.

As a young boy he amazed anyone who heard him play,

but his talent was so natural to him that praise was always a surprise.

It still is.

His playing matured into the soulful sound which eventually led to an

opening act slot for none other than the great

Ella Fitzgerald

when she graced the stage at the University of Western Ontario's Alummni Hall.

David has also had the pleasure of working with:

David moved to Vancouver in 1989 and in no time he got himself smack dab in the middle of the jazz scene, hitting all the clubs to check out the groups playing in town.

On his first visit to the renowned Three Greenhorns Jazz Club he heard an exceptional trio.

On the break, David introduced himself to the pianist/leader, and at some point in the conversation it was noted that David played jazz piano too.

So he was invited to sit in with the bassist and drummer for a few tunes in the next set.

Within a few bars of the first tune, David was playing with such comfort that one might think they'd all played together before, but the fine bassist and drummer sure helped!

The group leader was the wonderful Linton Garner.

Not only was it a pretty darned nice break so soon after his arrival in Vancouver, but best of all David gained a valued new friend in Vancouver's beloved jazz icon.

From that point on, Linton and David continued a mutual admiration of each other's talents as well as a cherished friendship.

Linton was for many years the resident pianist at Rossini's Jazz Restaurant and whenever David would drop in to enjoy Linton's masterful playing, Linton would ask him to get up and play a few.

From then on it was a given.

Linton would sit with his eyes closed and toes a-tappin', taking in every note.

In the summer of 2002, David wanted to add one more song to finish the CD and thought that a piano duet would finish it off well.

He asked Linton, who graciously accepted and chose one of his favourite tunes,

"Stella By Starlight"

Linton passed away in early 2003 at the age of 87, and is sorely missed by not only his endless list of fans, but by every single person who had the honour of knowing him.

David is very grateful to have been one.

* Footnote......

"Stella" was Linton's final studio CD work, and it was such a distinct honour to play the duet with my friend!

Any other time, I'd be listening to him - or he'd be listening to me - in a jazz club somewhere.

So to be together in the studio was a wonderful treat for me, and I hear 'Stella' as a nice tribute to Errol's exceptional brother.

In 1990 David played with his trio on the cruise ships to Alaska and later to the Caribbean.

On his return he looked for a new roommate and put an ad in The Georgia Straight for someone who had a piano that he could practice and compose on.

He met Harry Kalensky through the ad. It just so happened that Harry was looking for a roomie to share his pad...AND...he had a piano!

Harry Kalensky

Harry being his usual modest self, didn't let on for some time that he was the original bass player for Canada's famous 1970's chart-topping rock group,

'Trooper'