Dave Bargeron


David Wayne Bargeron was an American trombonist and tuba player who was a member of the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Life and career

Bargeron was born on September 6, 1942. He was lead trombonist with Clark Terry's Big Band and played bass trombone and tuba with Doc Severinsen's Band between 1968 and 1970. He joined Blood, Sweat, and Tears in 1970 after Jerry Hyman departed and first appeared on the album B, S & T; 4. With this group, he recorded the jazz-rock solo on the tuba in "And When I Die/One Room Country Shack" on the album Live and Improvised. His recording credits with BS&T include eleven albums. A break in their schedule allowed him to join the Gil Evans Orchestra in 1972.
He became a freelance musician after leaving Blood, Sweat & Tears. He recorded with Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, David Sanborn, Carla Bley, and Pat Metheny. He performed with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band from Switzerland, the George Russell Living Time Orchestra, and was a long-time member of Jaco Pastorius's Word of Mouth Band. He recorded and toured with Tuba Tuba, a jazz tuba band which includes Michel Godard, Luciano Biondini, and Kenwood Dennard. He was a member of Howard Johnson's Gravity, a six-tuba group that has been together since 1968. Bargeron released several albums as a soloist and in collaboration.
Bargeron died on January 18, 2025, at the age of 82. He was survived by his wife of 39 years, Holly, and their child Augusta; Three children he had with his late first wife Sandra: Julianna, David, and Sojourner; His siblings, Richard Bargeron and Deborah Kuzmeskas; and his beloved grandchildren. David was predeceased by his son Jeremiah Howard Bargeron, who died in 1977 at the age of 5.

Discography

As leader

  • Barge Burns...Slide Flies
  • ''Tuba Tuba''

    As sideman

With Blood, Sweat & Tears
  • B, S & T; 4
  • New Blood
  • No Sweat
  • Mirror Image
  • New City
  • In Concert
  • More Than Ever
  • Brand New Day
With Gil Evans
  • Live at the Public Theater
  • Bud and Bird
  • Farewell
With George Gruntz
  • Theatre
  • First Prize
  • Blues 'N Dues Et Cetera
  • Beyond Another Wall
  • Liebermann Live at Jazz Fest Berlin
  • Merryteria
  • Expo Triangle
  • Global Excellence
  • Tiger by the Tail
  • Pourquoi Pas? Why Not?
  • Matterhorn Matters
  • News Reel Matters
With Howard Johnson
  • Gravity!!!
  • Right Now!
  • Testimony
With Bob Mintzer
  • Papa Lips
  • Incredible Journey
  • Spectrum
  • Urban Contours
  • Art of the Big Band
  • Departure
  • Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival
With Jaco Pastorius
  • Word of Mouth
  • Twins I Aurex Jazz Festival '82
  • Twins II Aurex Jazz Festival '82
  • Invitation
  • The Birthday Concert
  • Twins I & II: Live in Japan 1982
  • Then & Now
  • Truth, Liberty & Soul
With Steve Tyrell
  • This Guy's in Love
  • The Disney Standards
  • Back to Bacharach
With others