Jazz Pianist Shigeru Kawai Artist

Dave Bradshaw, Jr. , a native of Lakewood, California, was first introduced to music through accordion lessons, which saw him progress to performing on the organ and piano at church at the tender age of 10.

By the 6th grade, Bradshaw, Jr was already reforming at weddings and funerals and, in his sophomore year, he was booked to play in the band that backed Chuck Berry at the opening of the Lakewood Hop.

Out of high school, Bradshaw won a seat as a keyboardist in the U.S. Navy Show Band, touring across the world and performing for dignitaries including Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice and Presidents Bush and Clinton.

He soon became a highly-rated sideman and was a member of the Al Williams Jazz Society — a popular ensemble known for regular gigs at Spaghettini in Seal Beach — for 13 years. He has opened for some of the genre’s most famous figures, including Brian Culbertson and Kenny G.

His career as a sideman has seen him work with legends of the genre, including Tony Curtis, Etta James and Natalie Cole. He was also a regular with Barbara Morrison and was part of a big band ensemble that played at Phyllis Diller’s 80th birthday.

It wasn’t long before Bradshaw Jr. became a composer in his own right. The passing of his father inspired him to start composing his own music, and it quickly became a necessary catharsis to deal with the emotion and pain. It was at this time he reached out to composer, producer and saxophonist Darren Rahm to further develop Jumpstep, adding new melodies to the verses and replacing synthetic sounds with Rahn’s regular bassist Mel Brown.

Since then Bradshaw, Jr. has enjoyed a fruitful musical partnership with Darren Rahn. Together they have produced several acclaimed tracks, including Jumpstep, as well as a full-length album.