David Manson is a teacher, composer, producer, and performer. His degrees include a doctorate in music from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Manson is a founding member of the MIRA (Music Industry/Recording Arts) program at St. Petersburg College where he was honored with the title of Distinguished Faculty.
Manson is a recipient of Artist Fellowships in music composition from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (1999 & 2005) and Creative Pinellas (2017), a Fulbright-Hays project in Turkey, and an artist feature in the Southern Arts Federations JazzSouth radio program. He performed with Cecil Taylor at the Atlantic Center for the Arts and was an artist-in-residence at the Sound Arts Workshop in Miami. Two of his compositions have been premiered by the Florida Orchestra. His original music has been placed in shows on HBO, Fox, CW, AMC, and ABC.
Manson was a trombonist and arranger for Bogus Pomp, an acclaimed Frank Zappa repertoire band. He has produced ten recordings including “Go”, “Radiant Forces”, “A Kiss for Rio”, “Fluid Motion”, “Infinita Bossa”, “Beast”, “Particle Zoo”, ‘Visions” and “Modern Music for Trombone”. His 2002 recording “Fluid Motion” with jazz legend Sam Rivers, was selected by JazzTimes critic Duck Baker as his “vote for jazz record of the year.”
Manson is director of the nonprofit presenter EMIT, which has presented over 450 concerts and workshops of adventurous music in Pinellas County. He also directs the Recording Arts Program (RAP) with Boys & Girls students at the Royal Theater in Midtown, St. Petersburg. He directs the annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival (in its 14th season) and leads the Helios Jazz Orchestra and Brazilian group O Som Do Jazz.
