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David Silliman

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Drummer and percussionist, David Silliman's middle name should be versatility. Whether accompanying song stylists such as Mariah Carey, Cassandra Wilson, and Blossom Dearie or playing with Colombian Harpist Edmar Castaneda, David's exciting rhythmic energies add color and mood to any musical performance. He's also comfortable playing in the pit of a Broadway show or with the New Jersey Symphony. David has over 20 years of experience. His performances have taken him to concerts and festivals in Italy, Vienna, Berlin, the North Sea, Monterey, Uruguay and Lithuania. David was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was exposed to a wide variety of music. David's first studies were in the Classical field, studying snare drum, xylophone and timpani. Later studies exposed him to Jazz, Latin Jazz, Brazilian and Funk music. Hearing music with a drummer and a percussionist made a strong impression on his playing. Trying to recreate that sound and "feel" with just one person has become a lifetime passion. David's current setup includes a standard American Drum Set augmented with a South American Cajon. Drums from the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean along with various other percussion and some his own creations surround him. His performances on percussion and drums at the "Umbria Jazz Festival", in Orvieto & Perugia, Italy with Columbian Harpist, Edmar Castaneda garnered praise from critics and audiences alike. "David's unique setup allowed him to move seamlessly from the Cajon, to Drum Set and all the percussive "toys" in between, creating the rhythmic sound and energy of two or three percussionists. Years of playing with Blossom Dearie's trio, showed another side of David's musical talents. Dearie's soft and understated musical styling is matched perfectly with David's softer, highly sensitive drumming. Highlights of David's past work include concert tours with Al DiMeola, Cassandra Wilson, and Leslie Uggams. He also has performed with Aretha Franklin in New York, and is featured on the VH1 Divas 2001 concert.

David Silliman News


Margaret Curry to Present Encore Performance of THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN at Laurie Beechman Theatre


Join Bistro Award-winning vocalist Margaret Curry as she returns for an encore performance of THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN at Laurie Beechman Theatre. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Michael Rider Brings THIS 'OLD HOUSE to The Green Room 42 in May


Michael Rider will make his nightclub debut with the story of his odyssey from the family farm in Central Pennsylvania to the metropolis of New York City. This ‘Ol House: Stories of a City Bear, Country Queen is a collection of stories and songs detailing Rider's journey of discovery from an awkward, out-of-place, gay boy in the country to an out, openly fabulous queen in the city.

Maria Corsaro Brings An Encore Of WHY NOT? To Chelsea Table + Stage This April


Maria Corsaro will present reimagined arrangements of jazz standards along with beloved, but rarely performed jazz songs written by some of the most influential composers and lyricists of this great American art form.

Margaret Curry Brings An Encore of THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN At Laurie Beechman Theatre!


Catch Margaret Curry's encore performances of THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN at Laurie Beechman Theatre on April 6 and May 4. Don't miss the 2024 Bistro Award-winning show.

Margaret Curry Brings THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN to the Laurie Beechman Theatre


2024 Bistro Award-winning vocalist Margaret Curry will return to Laurie Beechman Theatre in encore performances of The Space In-Between, originally performed on November 30, 2023.

Maria Corsaro Will Bring WHY NOT? to Chelsea Table + Stage


Maria Corsaro will present reimagined arrangements of jazz standards along with beloved, but rarely performed jazz songs written by some of the most influential composers and lyricists of this great American art form.

Review: Kim David Smith Was Exquisite in MORE MOSTLY MARLENE at Joe's Pub


Bistro Award winning singer Kim David Smith was utterly mesmerizing at MORE MOSTLY MARLENE at Joe’s Pub on February 6th at 9:30 pm. Smith captured the essence of that famed star of stage and screen, Marlene Dietrich, and the period she represented.

Michael Rider Brings 'This 'Ol House: Stories of a City Bear, Country Queen' to Chelsea Table and Stage


Singer, performer, coach, and voice teacher Michael Rider brings his journey from a dairy farm in Pennsylvania to the metropolis of NYC through stories and songs during his NYC cabaret debut in THIS ‘OL HOUSE: STORIES OF A CITY BEAR, COUNTRY QUEEN.

Richard Skipper to Celebrate HELLO, DOLLY! With Lee Roy Reams at The Laurie Beechman Theater


Join Richard Skipper and Lee Roy Reams as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved musical Hello Dolly!

Critically-Acclaimed Performer Kim David Smith Presents MORE MOSTLY MARLENE at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater


Kim David Smith invites Broadway World and its readers to his upcoming presentation of 'More Mostly Marlene' at Joe's Pub on February 6th. The show features an expanded program of Marlene Dietrich, Liza Minnelli, and Kylie Minogue songs, accompanied by a talented band. Don't miss this critically-acclaimed performer's captivating performance.

Photos: Margaret Curry Presents THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN at The Laurie Beechman Theatre


Margaret Curry played The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Thursday night, November 30th with her musical cabaret THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN.

Christopher Collette To Play The Laurie Beechman Theatre With COME FLY WITH ME


THE LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER will present up-and-coming Saloon Singer vocalist Christopher Collette and pianist, composer, music director Tracy Stark.

Photos: James Beaman Plays The Triad With LIVED EXPERIENCE


On October 26th, cabaret director James Beaman returned to the nightclub stage as a performer for the first time in twenty years and Broadway World Cabaret has the photos.

Review: James Beaman Comes Out With LIVED EXPERIENCE at The Triad


James Beaman has come out of retirement but he has also come out as a cabaret artist working under his own name and persona in an extremely personal nightclub act.

MARGARET CURRY In THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN: Thursday, November 30, 7:00PM At LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE!


Award-winning actress Margaret Curry returns to the cabaret stage to examine The Space In-Between through story and song. With joy and courage, she explores, stimulates, and delights in the universe between the present and the future, the good and the bad, hope and what's-to-come. Always seeking to dive and dig deep into all things human, ever-curious about why we do what we do, she strives to remind and cajole herself and her audiences to fly higher.

Kati Neiheisel Plays Lovely Encore Of Carpenters Tribute Show YESTERDAY... ONCE MORE At Pangea


Performers who take on the task of creating tribute shows can sometimes fall into the trap of emulating or copying performances of the artists and/or tunes to which they are trying to pay homage, but Neiheisel has not fallen into that trap. 

Maria Corsaro to Present I COULD GET USED TO THIS! at Chelsea Table + Stage in November


Maria Corsaro will present her new show 'I Could Get Used to This!' at Chelsea Table + Stage, Thursday, November 9th at 7:00 PM. 

Kati Neiheisel Brings YESTERDAY...ONCE MORE to Pangea


Kati Neiheisel brings her love of the Carpenters back to Pangea with an encore performance of Yesterday...Once More, a show celebrating the musical legacy of sibling duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. With musical direction by Gregory Toroian and directed by Lina Koutrakos, the show includes songs written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, Leon Russell and more!

BACKSTAGE BABBLE CELEBRATES TONY AWARDS HISTORY, Adam Pascal, and More to Play 54 Below Next Week


Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club and 2022 Tony Awards Honoree for Excellence in the Theatre, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work.

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