Dave Bjur

Bass

Dave Bjur is a professional bassist and teacher. His performing career began in 1977 when he joined the U.S. Air Force Band, playing a variety of styles while performing throughout the Western United States, Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. In 1988 he toured for six months with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and in 1993 & 1994 toured with the Paul Smith Trio in the “Tonight” with Steve Allen stage show. In 1993 he began a four-year role as bassist with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He recorded with the band on the CD Absolutely! for Lake Street Records and on “White Christmas” from John Pizzarelli’s Let’s Share Christmas RCA recording. With the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra he toured twice to Japan, including performances with Benny Carter and Diana Krall. While in Los Angeles he worked for Ray Brown as associate producer on Ray’s Art of Playing the Bass video series. Studying with John Clayton since 1987, Dave has also taken lessons with Ray Brown, John Heard and Paul Ellison.

Dave has been teaching jazz bass at WSU since 2020. He previously taught jazz bass at the University of Idaho from 2006–2020, performing and recording with the Palouse Jazz Project, the Lionel Hampton School of Music faculty jazz ensemble. He has additionally taught double bass at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, and Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.