Toucan Dave

"Ice Cream" Dave Pascal got his start in show business by driving an ice cream truck, and hasn't slowed down since. He is not only the producer of the Toucans' albums, but also plays a mean tenor bass. He's one of the greatest additions to the Toucans All-Star roster. Go Dave!

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Dave attended the University of Washington, graduated with a degree in Acoustics & Sound Engineering, and can be seen in this photo. His musical career started in high school when he began playing acoustic bass and trombone, and now he's always in demand as one of Seattle's preeminent bassists, playing in David Mamet's Speed The Plow, the Seahawks Band, and his own solo act, Biology of Parrots.

Dave's other bands include Red Fish, Blue Fish and The Jazz Police, and he has also appeared in the line-up for many national touring acts. If you want bass, Dave's your man (except where your schedule conflicts with the Toucans').

Dave is currently starting up his very own band, a swazzy avant-jazz trio called Nudge Nudge. With Seattle drummer extraordinaire Chris Monroe and the Mysterious Mister X on guitar, Dave's new project will rule for all time.

Dave also has a golden ear, and produces sound designs for theatre, cd-rom (the acclaimed Alphabonk Farm and many others), and television. He has engineered the brazen Toucans sound on the last few Toucans albums, 1996's Five And A Half Original Songs , the 1998 release of Steel Drums: Old & New, the 2000 release of Steel Drum Buffet, and 2004's seminal Beak Sounds.

Dave can often be found in his secret underground hideaway (if you know where it is, of course), devising all sorts of musical schemes. His next project might be co-producing Quiet Jungle, a collaborative rainforest soundscape featuring members of the Toucans including Toucan Leo on bird sounds and wildlife noises, or it might be something else.

Here is a classic photo of Dave just goofing around, like always. You never know when he's going to show up in a crazy costume, or silly pants, or maybe even a shaven head! This photo was taken at the People for Puget Sound Beach Party, 2002. Unfortunately, octopuses weren't allowed in.

Dave appears as a guest artist on several Toucans albums, playing crazy instruments like the Theremin and adding his sonic wizardry to the Toucans' great steel drum sound. He enjoys a tall glass of grapefruit juice before gigs, and a refreshing double-shot of A-1 steak sauce just after. He can usually be found on, near, behind, or under the ubiquitous Toucan Tenor Basses.