Dr. David Rajewski is a musician with diverse musical experience. With over 20 years of professional freelance experience David has performed and recorded with artists and groups as diverse as, The Temptations, The Vervepipe, David Liebman, Tom Harrell, John Fedchock, Rob McConnell, Jiggs Whigham, James Carter, Slide Hampton, Charlie Persip, Steve Lippia, Ed Polarmo, Andrew Woolfolk, Van Lester, Fred Hess, Leslie Gore, Ron Miles, Dave Douglas and Matt Wilson. Although a Michigan native, David’s fine trumpet playing has allowed him to perform throughout the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, and twelve countries throughout Europe.
David received his BM degree in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University in Detroit (99) while studying and performing with renowned trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. After spending time in New York playing Lead Trumpet for Charlie Persip’s Big Band (early 2000’s) he moved back to Detroit in 2003. In addition to performing locally in various musical settings and nationally with the Temptations, David also accepted a position as Production Assistant at Yessian Music. There he produced numerous local and national T.V./radio commercials as well as two episodes for the Discovery channel’s “Med-Air” documentary series.
David moved to Denver in 2004 to pursue and later receive his MM in Trumpet Performance at the University of Colorado working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant to Terry Sawchuk (2006). He later completed his DMA in Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado (2016) studying with John Gunther. Since moving to Denver David’s fine trumpet playing and musicianship has allowed him to perform in the areas top Jazz, Classical, Latin, Pop and Funk settings. Denver based groups include the Motet, Fire It Up Brass Band, Ninth & Lincoln Jazz Orchestra, Rockslide, Wil Swindler’s Elevenet, Adam Bartczak Republic, La Candella, Conjunto Colores, Fred Hess Big Band, H2 Big Band, Vail Valley Theatre Company, Buell Theatre, and the Arvada Center for the Performing Arts.
As an educator he has worked with numerous public/private Detroit and Denver area schools through independent music programs, clinics, special classes and private lessons. David has also taught for Naropa University (2006), University of Colorado Continuing Education Program (2005-6) and adjudicated for the UNC Greeley Jazz Festival (2012). David currently conducts educational outreach through the Park Hill Brass, DaVinci Center for the Musical Arts and the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts. Throughout the years David’s trumpet students have been awarded scholarships to the University of North Texas, University of Miami, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado and the Lamont School of Music.
In 2009 David founded the Legacy Jazz Orchestra, a project dedicated to performing and preserving the music and legacy of the late great Thad Jones. The band featured Denver’s top professional jazz musicians and was featured at the Five Points Jazz Festival (2010) and on Jazz 89.3 KUVO.
In 2017 David founded the The Welton Street Players. This Trad Jazz group celebrates Denver’s historic Jazz scene from the 1920-50’s and features some of the top Jazz professionals in Denver.
Dave Rajewski – trumpet
Scott Gwinnell – piano
Jeff Pedraz – string bass
David Zwolinski – drums