Electric Performance - video, audio, images and booking info

Acoustic Performance - video, audio and images

David Certain's innovative bass style employing swing, funk and Latin elements is inspired by Buster Williams, Jaco Pastorius, Art Davis and Alex Blake: old school sees tomorrow. A bassist for over 40 years, David Certain studied with Kenny Davis of the Oberlin Conservatory.  David currently resides in St. Louis performing with vocalist Charles Glenn, the Eddie Henderson Quartet and guitar legend Marvin Horne.  David is music director for The Oliver Sain Revue and performs locally with Billy Barnett, Blind Willie Deneen, and is first call substitute for several prominent bassists.

He toured and recorded with legendary, Grammy-nominated drummer and "The Mayor of Harlem" Greg Bandy in his band, The Unsung Heroes, for eight years before moving to San Francisco in May 2004. David has performed with Miles Davis alumnus and Downbeat Readers' Poll winner, saxophonist Gary Bartz, free jazz pioneer and pianist Bobby Few, organ master Jimmy McGriff, saxophonist and Grammy-winning arranger Willie Smith, singer "Little" Jimmy Scott, Latin jazz pianist Hilton Ruiz, drummer Ike Wiley (formerly with Stanley Clarke) and many others.

On the West Coast, David worked with saxophonist Vincent Herring, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, drummer/percussionist Babatunde Lea, vocalist Paula West and many other fine musicians. Equally at home on acoustic and electric basses, he also sings, plays guitar, six-string piccolo bass, drums, lap steel guitar and keyboard synthesizer on "Compositions," his CD of original music. David's company, CertainBass, makes custom electric basses for an international clientele.