Today we’d like to introduce you to David Gomez.
Hi David, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started with my dad teaching me music through percussion from an early age in Panama City, Panama—my beautiful home country. Our house was always filled with hand drums and guitars, and once I was old enough, my dad began teaching me guitar, setting me on my musical path. I spent countless hours playing with him at church, which helped develop my ear and instincts as a musician. He always emphasized the importance of practice and the need to truly love the craft.
As I grew, I picked up the saxophone in band class, beginning what became a lifelong journey with the instrument. I started on alto sax but later switched to tenor, which became my primary instrument for many years. My home was a melting pot of music—my mom listened to everything from Céline Dion to Juan Luis Guerra, my dad played folk music (típico), and my grandmother loved Carlos Vives and vallenato. Meanwhile, my neighbors would blast salsa legends like El Gran Combo, Oscar D’León, and the great Rubén Blades. This diverse musical environment shaped my approach to writing and composing.
During high school, I started attending the Panama Jazz Festival, which later led me to study saxophone under the legendary Carlos Garnett—a genius of improvisation who played with Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Miles Davis, among others. I eventually moved to the U.S. to study music, and after graduation, I found myself playing locally in St. Louis, MO, performing traditional jazz on clarinet and saxophone. It was the perfect first job out of college, playing from Tuesday to Sunday, sometimes with 11 gigs a week, even traveling to Chicago for shows.
It wasn’t long before I was spotted performing and offered my first touring job, which took me all over the Midwest and East Coast. Through that experience, I met incredible musicians and began networking in Chicago, which led to more touring opportunities. A few years later, I became the music director for Tonina Saputo, touring across the U.S. and Europe, co-writing songs, and covering rhythm guitar, keys, sax, and flute.
Eventually, I formed my own band and began developing my compositions, blending jazz with my Panamanian roots and playing many sold out shows. While on a trip with another band, I received a call from Devon Allman to go play percussion and sax, which led to touring with him and hopping on a tour bus at a moment’s notice. For the past three years, I’ve been a part of the Allman Family Revival, sharing the stage with incredible musicians and performing at legendary venues like The Beacon Theatre in New York City and The Fillmore in San Francisco. I also have plenty of studio recording work, with guitar, reed instruments and percussion.
Now, I’ve relocated to the West Coast and am focused on my solo project (DAVID.), with my debut album dropping this summer. I’m incredibly grateful to work with a band that takes my compositions to places I never imagined—and, of course, I’m loving the weather.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never smooth—but that’s what makes the journey worthwhile. Every setback or unexpected turn is an opportunity to adapt, learn, and keep moving forward. You have to stay two steps ahead and keep your creativity hungry.
In all honesty, even a bad day is a great day in this line of work. As long as you keep creating and putting yourself out there, opportunities will come—or you’ll create them yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, and arranger, creating strong, memorable melodies that stick with you. I excel at developing ideas to their fullest potential and pushing musical boundaries.
I can’t say exactly what sets me apart because I’m always learning and admiring other musicians and artists. We all have something that makes us unique—that’s the beauty of art. What one person sees as an imperfection, another sees as character.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am shy!