David Friedrich Dallwitz (25 October 1914 – 24 March 2003) was a South Australian jazz and classical musician, bandleader, composer, painter, and art teacher whose work spanned almost seven decades. He led jazz, Dixieland, and ragtime bands, and performed with classical chamber music groups.

Biography

Dallwitz was born in Freeling, South Australia. He studied violin as a child. After moving with his family to Adelaide in 1930, he developed an aptitude for jazz piano. From 1933 to 1935, he studied concurrently at the South Australian School of Art and the North Adelaide School of Fine Art.

Music career

He led the Southern Jazz Group, a Dixieland band that performed at the first Australian Jazz Convention. He abandoned jazz for a period, during which he studied at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, composing symphonic and chamber music and taking up bassoon and cello. He became involved in composing and arranging music for revues, leading to the formation of the Flinders Street Revue Company, for which he also directed and played piano. He returned to jazz in 1970 and resumed recording shortly after. He worked with Australian progressive musicians such as John Sangster, Bob Barnard, and Len Barnard. He also led the Dave Dallwitz Ragtime Ensemble. Dallwitz died on 24 March 2003 in Adelaide, after finishing the art work for his album The Dave Dallwitz Big Band live at Wollongong, December 1984. This album was the result of the band's second appearance at the Australian Jazz Convention in Wollongong in 1984 and was mastered and co-produced by trumpeter Greg Englert, who was lead trumpet for the concert.

Art career

In 1940, Dallwitz joined the Royal South Australian Society of Arts as an associate member, full membership being the preserve of followers of conservative styles. In July 1942 the associate members held an exhibition in the Society's gallery on North Terrace of modern art, which drew local and interstate interest. He was involved in the formation in 1942 of the South Australian branch of the Contemporary Art Society, which identified with progressive modes of art, becoming its foundation chairman. Dallwitz taught technical drawing subjects (drafting, dimensioned sketching, lettering) at Thebarton Boys Technical School (known as ‘Thebbie Tech’). He taught at Adelaide Technical High School from around 1954 to 1964, where he introduced painting, drawing and history of art to replace the old technical drawing subjects. He then lectured in Art History and drawing at the School of Art until 1974. In 1974 he quit teaching and turned to painting and printmaking. His range of subjects was extensive (landscapes, portraits, still life) and he presented many one-man exhibitions.

Personal life

Dallwitz married art student Joan Rowe on 14 April 1938. Their home at Seacliff, South Australia, became known as the ‘Jazz House’ and as a gathering place for artists and musicians. They had two children, John (born 3 March 1941) and Julie (born 12 February 1947).

Awards and honors

In 1986 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for contributions to music, and the same year a plaque bearing his name was installed on North Terrace, Adelaide as part of the Jubilee 150 celebrations. In 1994 he was honoured by a retrospective exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia. His work hangs in the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Gallery of Australia and the University of South Australia.

Partial discography

As leader

As composer

<!-- ===Interviews=== Held by [Screensound Australia](https://bliptext.com/articles/screensound-australia) Record No. 455962: Dave Dallwitz talks about his career, including playing with Graeme Bell and his Dixieland Jazz Band in Melbourne during the late 1940s and playing with his band The Dave Dallwitz Southern Jazz Group in the 50s. Record No. 326622: Recorded by Radio Station 5UV for a series of radio programs. Record No. 328019: Dave Dallwitz talks about his introduction to jazz, his years at SA School of Art and Crafts and early art teaching and meeting his wife (who also talks). Covers up to the 1940s. Includes the following tunes: Black and Tan Fantasy, Riffin' at the KitKat, Let's do the Hoochie Koochie, Don't Bring Lulu. Record No. 328036: Dave Dallwitz talks about the formation of the Southern Jazz Group in 1945. Includes the following tunes; Sister Kate, Southern March #47, Southern March #86, Darktown Strutters, Passion Rag, Nineteen Nineteen, Basin Street Blues. Record No. 328039: Dave Dallwitz talks about early days of the Southern Jazz Group, his introduction to the Melbourne jazz scene, events leading to first Australian jazz convention. Includes the following tunes; Ugly Child, Just a Gigalo, Jelly Roll, Emu Strut, Ragtime Tuba. Record No. 328066: Dave Dallwitz talks about recording in Sydney with the Southern Jazz Group with Parlophone Records, Rodeo and Wilco Records.(The members recorded under assumed names for some of these recordings.) Includes the following tunes; Stomp Miss Hannah, You don't have to tell me you're leaving, You little, sweet little you, The Jockey's Warning, Columbus Stockade Blues, Look Down the Road. Record No. 328080: Dave Dallwitz talks about his new band after the break-up of the Southern Jazz Group and an ABC recording project, recording Australian jazz Compositions. Includes the following tunes;Royal Terminus Rag, Crocodile Creep, Shabby Gal Rag, Turquoise Twilight, Captivation, Ragtime Dance. Record No. 328091: Dave Dallwitz talks of his period in musical theatre, his return in 1970 to jazz, recording numerous albums mainly with Swaggie Records. He also studied bassoon and composition at the conservatorium. Includes the following tunes; I must Shout Wonderful, I like people like you, Ayers Rock, The Mooch, Climax Rag, Sprightly Nightly, Whim Creek Wobble. Record No. 328223: Dave Dallwitz talks about his releases through Swaggie Records. Discusses the influence of the hoax poetry of Ern Malley. Includes two suites from the Ern Malley Jazz Suite as well as readings from sections of the Ern Malley poems used. The following tunes are included: Willochra haze, Willochra Haze (Hines), Patterns for Slattens, Boult Upright. Record No. 328259: Dave Dallwitz talks about his recording with Swaggie Records during the 1970s. Talks of his increasing focus on composing and arranging. Includes the following tunes; Tullamrine, Midnight Crawl, Billabong, Three's a Crowd, Stringy Bark Stomp, Shamrock Dreams. Record No. 328266: Dave Dallwitz talks about the last jazz suite he composed before 1993 and his increased interest in ragtime music. Includes the following tunes; Ghost Town, Miner's Rest, Chimes, Fickle Fay. Record No. 328296: Dave Dallwitz talks about his bands such as The Hot Six and interest in forming big bands. He retired from teaching at the S.A. School of Art and was awarded the A.O. for services to Jazz Music in 1986. The Art Gallery of S.A. put on a retrospective of his art in 1994. Tunes include; Seville Blues, West of the Ulgas, African Violet, Cocklebiddy Rag, Watermelon Rag. Record No. 328299: Dave Dallwitz talks about his final Swaggie recording and his recordings with Stomp Off Records in Pennsylvania, USA. Tunes include; The Moon got in my Eyes, Banana Rag, Topaz, Pastime Rag No.4, Cassowary Strut. -->