Dave Specter


Dave Specter is an American Chicago blues and jazz guitarist.

Biography

Hailing from Chicago's Northwest side, Specter began to learn to play the guitar at the age of 18. His teacher was Steve Freund, who taught Specter between the latter's duties at the Jazz Record Mart and Delmark Records. Freund eventually organized a concert tour for Specter alongside Sam Lay and Hubert Sumlin. Contacts made while working at the B.L.U.E.S. nightclub secured gigs as a sideman to Johnny Littlejohn, Son Seals, and the Legendary Blues Band. By 1989 Specter had assembled his own backing band, known as the Bluebirds.
By 1998 Specter had released five albums on the Delmark label, combining a mixture of blues and jazz. Specter does not sing, and he enlisted Barkin' Bill Smith as his first vocalist, performing on Specter's 1991 debut album, Bluebird Blues. Specter made a guest appearance with Jesse Fortune, providing accompaniment on Fortune Tellin' Man. Harmonica player and singer Tad Robinson took over on the Bluebirds' Blueplicity and Live In Europe. After Robinson's departure, Lynwood Slim became the band's vocalist.
Jazz influences prevailed as time passed, and Specter invited Brother Jack McDuff to play the Hammond organ on the next album, Left Turn On Blue. Lenny Lynn took over vocal duties on the next release, Blues Spoken Here. In 2000, Speculatin' came out but Specter eschewed vocals altogether, releasing 13 instrumental tracks. Is What It Is with Steve Freund was followed by Live in Chicago.
In addition to his recordings, Specter undertakes frequent tours to Europe and beyond.

Discography

Music journalist, Tony Russell wrote that "an extended, uncluttered view of Specter's music is noteworthy in his performance at a 1994 German concert, in a quartet with the correspondingly idiomatic harmonica playing and soulful singing of Tad Robinson".