David Drazin

He is notable among contemporary film accompanists for his use of the 1920s-era jazz and blues, rather than classic ragtime, in playing for silent comedies. His improvisational ballet and dance accompaniment skills serve him well in developing music for dramas, such as the films in the Fritz Lang film series recently shown at the Art Institute. 

Not limited only to music, David has operated cameras and projectors as well as crafting several short films of his own. His archive collection includes 78 rpm records, 8 and 16 millimeter silent and sound films.

Jazz, Ballet and Modern Dance Music

In addition to his film music work, Mr. Drazin has accompanied ballet and modern dance classes for Evanston School of Ballet, Gus Giordano Dance Center, Northwestern University, Hubbard Street Dance Company, and Lou Conte School of dance. Versatile with dance music, he has also performed music for tap dance at the Chicago Cultural Center.

His CD recordings include ballet improvisations, modern and traditional jazz, original comedy songs with vocals and piano accompaniment, and a live nightclub performance featuring Chicago blues guitar legend Floyd McDaniel.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Drazin received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Ohio State University. An accomplished performer, he moves easily from dramatic classical to lively jazz styles, boogie-woogie and blues, original novelty works and Harlem stride piano.

Dave's Keyboards

In addition to acoustic piano, Dave also performs on his Kurzweil SP76 and his Kawai ES3.   

Seven Chances (1925, Buster Keaton)
Hands Up (1926, Raymond Griffith)
Peter Pan (1924 Herbert Brenon)
The Cameraman (1928 Buster Keaton)
The General (1927, Buster Keaton)
Sherlock Jr. (1924, Buster Keaton)
Tramp, Tramp. Tramp (1926, Harry Langdon)
The Wedding March (1928, Erich Von Stroheim)
Exit Smiling (1926, Beatrice Lillie)
Earth (1930, A. Dovzhenko)
Arsenal (1929, A. Dovzhenko)
I Was Born But... (1932, Yasujiro Ozu)
The Gold Rush (1925, Charlie Chaplin)
Grandma's Boy (1922, Harold Lloyd)
Aelita, Queen of Mars (1924, Yakov Protazanov)
Metropolis (1927, Fritz Lang)
Spies (1928, Fritz Lang)
When the Clouds Roll By (1919, Douglas Fairbanks)
Stella Maris (1918, Mary Pickford)
Intolerance (1916, D.W. Griffith)
Faust (1926, F.W. Murnau)
City Girl (1930, F.W. Murnau)
Within Our Gates (1920, Oscar Micheaux)
My Boy (1922, Jackie Coogan) (Studio recording)
Underworld (1927, Josef von Sternberg)
Chicago (1928, Frank Urson)
Sky High (1922, Tom Mix)
The Toll Gate (1920, William S. Hart)
Les Vampires (1915-16, Feuillade)
His People (1925, Edward Sloman)
The Lodger (1926, Alfred HItchcock) 
Redskin (1929, Richard Dix)

Resource Links to Silent Film, Dance and Jazz