David Caceres

Descended from one of Texas' influential musical families, David Caceres continues to break new ground on his own. Known for the vibrant, hard-edged tone that he summons with his saxophone, Caceres successfully fuses jazz, pop, R&B, and Latin influences. While his saxophone playing remains rooted in the sounds of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Miles Davis, his singing reflects a more-subdued, intimate, texture inspired by such pop and R&B vocalists as Chet Baker, Donny Hathaway, Frank Sinatra, and Stevie Wonder.

Caceres was born to play music. His grandfather, Emilio Caceres, played jazz violin and led swing jazz orchestras in the 1930s and '40s. His great uncle, Ernie Caceres, played saxophone and clarinet in big bands led by Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Woody Herman. Studying piano from the age of four, Caceres switched to alto saxophone before his 12th birthday. He later added soprano and tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute to his arsenal of instruments. After honing his skills with a variety of local bands, Caceres received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Although he briefly worked as a sideman in New York, following his graduation in 1989, he returned to Texas and took a position with a Houston-based jazz combo led by pianist Paul English. Caceres has retained a busy schedule as a musician. In addition to performing with his own straight-ahead band, the David Caceres Quintet, he continues to work with a fusion band, Stratus, a funk group, Tkoh!, and various big bands. In 1992, he was featured on the Texas public radio show Live at the Landing: A Tribute to the Jazz Legacy of Ernie and Emilio Caceres. A former faculty member at HSPVA (High School for the Performing and Visual Arts), Caceres teaches in the music department of the University of Houston. He continues to perform regularly with his quintet at Houston nightspots Cezanne's and Ovations.