Born in 1972, David Sauzay began playing the saxophone at the age of 8 in the class of Roger Michel-Frédéric. In 1988, during an exchange program with the Doncaster School of Music in England, directed by John Ellis, he decided to become a jazz musician. He then studied at the Lyon Conservatory, the EMN (École Municipale de Musique) in Villeurbanne with Gilbert Dojat, and at AIMRA with Jacques Helmus.

He has had the opportunity to work with Mulgrew Miller, Tete Montoliu, John Abercrombie, Tim Ries, and the big bands of Albert Mangelsdorff and Carla Bley.

In 1994, he became an active member of the MU Collective, founded that same year. This group of musicians met every night to play in a cellar in Macon, which later became the Crescent Jazz Club. (François Gallix, Eric Prost, Philippe Garcia, Gaël Horellou, Laurent Sarrien, Laurent Courthaliac, Jean-Louis Bonneton, Emmanuel Borghi, Fabien Marcoz, etc.) This collective won first prize at the Vienna International Jazz Competition in 1995 and first prize at the La Défense Jazz Competition in 1996.

At the same time, he played with the ORJ (Orchestre de Jazz de Grenoble) directed by Gilles Lachenal and with Simon Goubert's Quintet, featuring Michel Grallier.

In 1997, he formed his own quintet with Gaël Horellou, Laurent Courthaliac, Clovis Nicolas, and Philippe Garcia, with whom he recorded in Spain for the Fresh Sound New Talent label. In 1998, he was part of the all-night music collective at Le Petit Opportun in Paris, played in Laurent Courthaliac's quintet with Olivier Témime, in Pierre Drevet's sextet, and participated in the recording of Charles Aznavour's CD, "Jazznavour." In 1999, he joined the Belmondo/Dal Sasso big band and played with Manuel Rocheman alongside Kyle Eastwood to promote Eastwood's CD in France. In 2001, the Banneville/Sauzay Quartet invited Mino Cinelu to perform several concerts at the Coutances Festival.

A highly sought-after sideman, he has played with the big bands of Christian Escoudé, Gerard Badini, Yvan Julien, Michel Delage, and Jean-Pierre Derouard, as well as the Laurent Marode Sextet and Jean-Pierre Derouard himself.

He has also accompanied international singers such as: Lauren Kinhan and Peter Eldridge (New York Voices), Maurey Richards, Manu Leprince, Rosemary Philips, Margault Lampley, and others.

Always eager to explore new sounds, he also participates in contemporary music projects with Laurent Dewilde's electro sextet and Cosmik Connection. From 2006 to 2012, he was a finalist in the Juan-les-Pins Jazz Competition.

He recorded music by Jean Musy for the television films "C'était ça la vie" and "Le temps du silence" with LIO for France 2.

With Thierry Lalo, he participated in the Jazz Quartet and Children's Choir on "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and "Boulevard du Swing" in collaboration with CREA. On November 30, 2011, he recorded "Meeting Harold Mabern" with a New York rhythm section: Harold  Mabern (Piano), John Webber (Bass), and Joe Farnsworth (Drums).

2012/2014 Film-concert project based on "Elevator to the Gallows" with the guest trio, creation of a jazz opera on Pinocchio by Thierry Lalo, and "Somewhere" with CREA. Film-concert project based on the film "Shadows" by John Cassavetes. Film-concert based on "The Cure" by Charles Chaplin and on "The Three Ages" by Buster Keaton.

From 2014 to 2016, he performed: With saxophonist Luigi Grasso's Octet. As leader of "Playing with David Sauzay," and in "All Stars Sextets" with Fabien Mary, Alain Jean-Marie, and others.

He recorded with the Laurent Courthaliac Octet, "Music from Woody Allen Movies." He also appeared on the album "Nice & Easy" with Italian singer Walter Ricci.

From 2018 to 2020, he was a sideman with the Sarah McKenzie Sextet, where he played tenor saxophone, flute, and alto flute. He also performed with Fabien Mary and the Vintage Orchestra "Too Short" (2021), the Fabien Mary Octet on "Left Arm Blues" (2018), and with the Voice Messengers on "Comme le temps passe" (2021).

Teaching: Creation of an educational YouTube channel, "Jazz and Improvisation," with over one hundred videos, and writing of teaching methods and materials, organization of jazz workshops and masterclasses. Writing of teaching methods and materials, organization of jazz workshops and masterclasses.

As a sideman, he has appeared on over forty albums (discography available on the website). He has played with Steve Grossman, Alain Jean-Marie, Michel Ausser, Philippe Soirat, Luigi Trussardi, Kenny Wheeler, Jean-Philippe Viret, Charles Bellonzi, Peter King, Maurice Vander, Antonio Farao, Michel Graillier, Michel Zénino, Emmanuel Bex, André Ceccarelli, Christian Escoudé, and others.

https://www.davidsauzay.com/