Panamanian-Born Saxophonist and Multi-Instrumentalist David Cultura Releases Debut Album via Devon Allman's Create Records

Panama has long been a place of crossroads, ships, trade, and stories flowing through the canal that binds oceans and cultures. Out of this rich meeting point of worlds comes saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist David Cultura, whose debut album, Cultura, released on Devon Allman’s Create Records, is less a collection of songs than a sweeping invitation: a call to dance, to listen, and to recognize the shared pulse of humanity.

From the opening notes, Cultura makes clear that David (pronounced da-VEED) has set out not only to make a jazz record, but to make one that carries warmth, accessibility, and connection at its heart. “I wanted to make an album that was centered around melody,” he explains. “I wanted it to be a jazz record that was accessible, that brought people into the music.” That intention resonates across all seven tracks, each brimming with melodic hooks, taut musicianship, and grooves that practically reach for a dance partner.

David’s story mirrors the breadth of his music. Growing up in Panama City, under the guidance of his father and surrounded by the eclectic sounds of his homeland, he learned saxophone, guitar, flute, and percussion. That early immersion gave him both discipline and freedom, the structure of formal training, but also the improvisational spirit that would later define his voice as a composer and performer.

His path eventually led north to St. Louis, another gateway city where cultures and musical traditions converge. There, he honed his craft further, playing with a variety of bands, most notably with singer-songwriter Tonina. It was in St. Louis that he forged a bond with guitarist Jackson Stokes, who introduced him to Devon Allman, a connection that would prove pivotal.

Allman, celebrated for his work with The Allman Betts Band, Honeytribe, and the Devon Allman Project, immediately recognized David’s raw talent and boundless potential. Inviting him into the Project in 2022, Allman later assumed the role of producer for Cultura. Two years on, at Sawhorse Studios, the collaboration bore fruit: seven tracks that capture the vibrancy of Latin and Caribbean rhythms, reimagined through a modern jazz lens.

The album opens with its title track, “Cultura”, ironically not written in Panama, but during David’s time in St. Louis. Breezy and buoyant, the tune nods to Stevie Wonder and the soul-infused energy of Los Angeles. It sets the tone for an album that consistently reflects David’s belief that environment shapes artistry: each composition a musical snapshot of a place, a moment, a feeling.

“Murga” follows with a sultry saxophone prelude before plunging into a relentless groove, a head-nodding momentum that feels like a street parade gathering steam. “Vidrio” transports us to the coastline, its flute lines dancing on trade winds while percussion locks in like an ancient heartbeat. “Jefferson Gravois,” named for intersecting streets in St. Louis, is angular and polyrhythmic, an ode to the grit and flow of the city where David’s U.S. journey truly began.

The record closes with love, in two forms. “Mia’s Lullaby,” a tribute to David’s daughter, starts tenderly, like a whisper at bedtime, before swelling into a rhythmic surge, as though capturing the boundless energy of childhood. The finale, “Ring,” takes inspiration from a simple piece of jewelry but crescendos into one of the album’s most confident declarations, a celebration of commitment, unity, and melody itself.

What David Cultura has created with Cultura is not just a debut, but a manifesto. It is music born of crossroads: of Panama’s vibrant heritage, of St. Louis’s jazz legacy, of Southern California’s laid-back energy. It is rooted in tradition, yet fearless in its embrace of modern grooves.

As Devon Allman himself has done throughout his career, David demonstrates that music is not about borders, but about bridges. His melodies extend an open hand, his rhythms summon us to move together, and his stories, though deeply personal, ring universal.

With Cultura, David Cultura has arrived. And in doing so, he has offered us all a reminder: that melody is memory, rhythm is connection, and culture, true culture, is what we share when we listen.

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