Dave Blenkhorn’s guitar playing career began in the 90’s in Sydney , the 2000’s in London and since then in the south of France. Blenkhorn is a hard swinging , blues based improviser who draws inspiration from the music of New Orleans, blues, swing and bebop .
Born and raised in Tamworth, Australia he took up the guitar inspired by his older brothers and blues and rock players. He learned to play jazz on the bandstand with older musicians from the Sydney jazz scene, learning the repertoire of classic swing and traditional new orleans. Since relocating to europe his musical repertoire was widened further with exposure to the culture and music of New Orleans via the JazzAscona festival where he led bands since 2003. Here he had the opportunity to hear and play with New Orleans greats Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, David Torkanowsky, Roland Guerin , John and Lillian Boutee and many others. In European festivals he has also performed with notable artists Jon Faddis, Dado Moroni, Lee Konitz, Scott Hamilton and Cecile McLorin Salvant.
In 2019 he recorded his first singing album featuring New Orleans masters Herlin Riley, David Torkanowsky, Gregory Porter jr of the Meters,Grayson Brockamp, Jamison Ross and special guest percussionist Pedro Segundo.
Following that session he had the good fortune to meet singer songwriter Judith Owen on whose record he guested including her single "September" released in 2020.