​Hailing from Cornwall, Dave Whitford discovered a passion for music at school where he started playing the bass guitar aged 13, quickly becoming a member of the award winning Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra and numerous other professional outfits. He moved to London to attend Middlesex University’s Jazz Course, and a few years after graduating with a first class degree, received a scholarship to study ​on​ the Jazz postgraduate program​ at ​the Guildhall School of Music. He also received the Paul Hamlyn foundation award which enabled him to tour and record with collective quartet Neverland.

Dave has become one of London’s most in-demand side-men and can frequently be heard in the capital’s top venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex, The 606 and The Jazz Caf​é. He has also toured extensively nationally and internationally appearing at the Xerox Rochester international Jazz festival, Abu Dhabi Jazz festival, The Brecon Jazz festival, San Sebastian Jazz festival and Love Supreme festival.

Current on-going projects include Christine Tobin’s group, Liam Noble’s Trio and Quintet, Claire Martin and Ray Gelato’s ​’​A Swinging Affair, and he was the late great saxophonist Bobby Wellins’ bassist for many years. In his freelance work, Dave also lends his skills to a host of talent including Steve Lacy, Marc Coplan, Bill Frisell, Dave Liebman, Phil Robson, Chris Cheek, The NDR Big Band and the BBC Big Band.