David Arend

Arend moves easily across genres such as classical, jazz, and electro-acoustic music. He has written or performed music in contexts ranging from theater, dance, and concert stage to art galleries, night clubs, and outdoor festivals. Arend’s music has been performed in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

As a performer, Arend worked closely with composers Ornette Coleman, Thomas Ades, George Crumb, Chen Yi, George Tsontakis, and John Psathas. Arend has performed and recorded with the San Francisco Symphony and is a member of the Oakland Symphony, directed by Michael Morgan.

Arend began playing in jazz combos when he was ten years old, first as a trombonist, later as a pianist, and finally as a bassist. He continued to play jazz while pursuing classical double bass degrees at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School, championing new music and befriending many composers along the way. Arend has worked extensively with singer/songwriters and improvises live electro-acoustic bass in collaboration with DJs and electronic artists who create musical hybrids.