David Restivo is one of Canada's most respected and influential jazz artists. He is a 3-time winner of the National Jazz Awards' Pianist of the Year Award, and is listed in the current edition of Canadian Who's Who.

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Born in Lansing, Michigan, molded by the mountains and coasts of New England, and based primarily in Toronto since 1982, he has been a sought-after and influential figure in Canada’s jazz community since the late 1980s. 

 

David is well known for his work with Rob McConnell's Boss Brass and Tentet, the Mike Murley Quintet, and legendary songwriter Marc Jordan. He was voted Toronto's Best Keyboardist in NOW Magazine's "Best of T.O." readers' poll in 1998 and received a JUNO Award for his work on the 2001 recording The Rob McConnell Tentet (Justin Time).

 

He has also performed and recorded with Dave Holland, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Mel Tormé, John Pizarelli, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Pat LaBarbera, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, George Garzone, Howard Johnson, Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Kevin Mahogany, Randy Bachman (BTO/Guess Who), David Clayton Thomas, Molly Johnson, and many other outstanding artists. ​

 

He can be heard on numerous recordings, including the Grammy-winning Mel Tormé/Rob McConnell collaboration Velvet and Brass (Concord Jazz), Mike Murley's Conversation Piece (Cornerstone), Marc Jordan's This is How Men Cry (Blue Note/EMI), and his own lauded debut Prayer for Humankind(ness) (Radioland/Universal).

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David has served on the music faculty at the Banff Centre for the Arts, St. Francis Xavier University, University of Manitoba, Humber College, and the University of Toronto. In January 2019, David joined the faculty in the Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology Program, and is now helping mentor students for a future in the music industry.

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"...one of the most burning piano players!"

~ Kenny Werner, jazz great