DAVE MILNE – As a jazz performance major at DePaul University in Chicago, Milne spent 8-10 hours a day practicing, working hard to fulfill his musical dreams. And he was well on his way. He played saxophone for groups all over the city from the House of Blues, Park West, and Schubas to the Double Door and the Lincoln Park Zoo Summer Concert Series.

The future looked bright. By his junior year, however, severe Scoliosis and his rigorous performance and practice schedule had taken its toll, setting off a series of painful setbacks that eventually forced him to put down the saxophone indefinitely. He was devastated.

When Milne moved to Portland, OR in 2000, he was focused on two things. Healing and to eventually…play music again. Over the next 4 years, he would slowly nurse himself back to health with a combination of meditation, exercise, chiropractic work and patience. Developing a technique of low impact playing, he methodically began to retrain himself to play the saxophone.

By mid 2005 Milne had made more progress than anyone had ever anticipated. His goal of playing the saxophone professionally once more was becoming reality. He now had a full docket of students to whom he was teaching his newly developed saxophone method and was sitting in with several groups around town.

Nearly 8 years after his debilitating setback, Milne debuted his CD, Present Tense, and hasn’t looked back since. While touring with Debra Arlyn, he also has his eye on the European market and a new album in 2009. With the recent introduction of his vocal chops into his live show, he continues to solidify himself as one of the most talented performers in the NW.