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Al Daniels

Al Daniels is an accomplished composer/arranger and jazz pianist. Over the course of his half century as a player/composer he has worked with some of the finest musicians on the west coast. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Al's music history dates back to high school where his classical performance in the Bay Area Young Musicians Competition (sponsored by Pepsi) won him a new Kawai piano and an appearance with the San Francisco Symphony. But as Al's musical vocabulary increased legendary jazz saxophonist John Handy became an early inspiration and mentor during his studies at San Francisco State. His pursuit of the jazz flame lead him to Seattle where as a student at Cornish Institute he studied under other noteworthy pillars of the day like, Gary Peacock, Art Lande, and Julian Priester. After graduating Summe Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance, Al completed the balance of his military commitment as a member of the March AFB Band in Riverside California. His studies continued in Southern California at CSU Los Angeles where he completed a Master of Music in Commercial Music, earning Special Recognition in Graduate Studies. Al's work has included tours with saxophonist Ronnie Laws. As co-founder/keyboardist/arranger of the Riverside-San Bernardino group JASPER he wrote original music for that group which featured stellar reed players such as Gerald Albright, Everette Harp, Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione and many others. As vocal accompanist, Daniels has appeared in various jazz clubs around the Los Angeles area with Cathy-Segal Garcia in piano trio format. Garcia is active with her Vocal Workshops in Los Angeles for jazz singers. In one of her most recent workshops she featured Cheryl Bentyne from the Manhattan Transfer and hired Daniels to provide solo piano accompaniment for the 10 singers in the Workshop. Currently he performs mostly in the Los Angeles area leading his own ensembles. His work has also won recognition in Jazziz Magazine "Keyboards on Fire Competition" for his original jazz composition "Intimate Pursuit". That song and nine others, which were part of his album "Life in the Balance" were reviewed by jazz journalist Jonathan Widran who wrote, "...offers out-there improvisations in front of catchy melodies, with rhythmic nods to gospel and, most interestingly, Brazilian music...the album is one of the better artist released indies of the young year." His original tune "Jazzed Cats" was featured in the magazines CD of the month.

Eddie Daniels, with Roger Kellaway - Live at the Library of Congress (2012)

Source: Something Else!
December 22, 2011

Clarinetist Eddie Daniels, appearing last February at the Library of Congress' Coolidge Auditorium, displays an almost telepathic symbiosis alongside pianist Roger Kellaway. Making good on 2009's pleasant and compulsively listenable Duet of One, the two charge into the evening with an explorative, polyrhythmic remake of Gershwin's “Strike Up The Band," stretching it out into an eight-minute rumination. Later, Daniels (a founding member of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra) and Kellaway (Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Ben ...
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Performance / Tour

Martin Wind Trio and Dee Daniels at the Seasons

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
October 18, 2010

Hours before Friday night's concert at The Seasons Fall Festival, bassist Martin Wind's trio lost a third of its roster when drummer Matt Wilson returned home to attend to a family medical situation. Wind called Greg Williamson, who drove 150 miles from Seattle to Yakima across the Cascade Mountains in time for a quick talk-through before he joined Wind and saxophonist Scott Robinson on stage. The combination clicked in the trio's first half and after intermission when singer-pianist Dee Daniels ...
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224

Radio

WSDM-FM with Yvonne Daniels Chicago Jazz Radio That Combined Sex and Class

Source: JAZZzology by Richard Watters
September 8, 2010

There was a time when Chicago jazz radio was both classy and sexy. Currently in ChiTown there is jazz regularly available only on WDCB-FM (90.9 mhz), the smooth jazz station WLFM-FM (87.7 mhz), and the college station WNUR-FM (89.3 mhz). As a young lad when I would hang out with my Father while he worked in his den on business projects for the American Oil Company, he would always have his radio on and set to the only FM jazz ...
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118

Recording

David Karsten Daniels:fear of Flying

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2008

By: Jake Krolick

David Karsten Daniels's Fear of Flying (Fat Cat) will make you a devoted follower before you even finish your first listen. Daniels is Seattle-by-way-of North Carolina's answer to the age old question of love and death. This album deals with the simple fact that we all grow old. Daniels's voice is a tender vessel that carries the joy and sorrow accompanied with life. It's refreshing to discover an album that removes music from traditional recording spaces and ...
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101

Event

Vinnie Zummo Trio at the Daniels Pavilion at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts Naples Florida April 18th & 19th

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2008

TWO NIGHTS OF JAZZ PLUS ALL KINDS OF MUSICAL SURPRISES WITH FORMER JOE JACKSON GUITARIST VINNIE ZUMMO! Straight from a smash engagement at New York City's famed Blue Note Club... The Vinnie Zummo TRIO in concert at the Daniels Pavilion at the Philharmonic Center for The Arts Naples Florida April 18th. & 19th Two shows per night: 6 and 8:30 The Vinnie Zummo Trio with Chip Jackson: Bass Ray Marchica: Drums
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163

Performance / Tour

Clarinet Virtuoso Eddie Daniels and Vocalist Kevin Mahogany with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 8:00 PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
November 13, 2007

This is a rare opportunity to see two great artists doing their unique material, accompanied by an energetic and powerful big band. Join us for this magnificent concert that benefits South Florida JAZZ educational programs in the community. Excellent seats are still available with VIP amenities if you desire them. Each artist will be featured for a set of personal arrangements with the 16-piece South Florida JAZZ Orchestra, followed by a jam at the conclusion of a thrilling evening. Join ...
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102

Performance / Tour

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Legacy (Tues) Jimmy Bruno (Wed) Eddie Daniels CD Rel (Thu-Sun) at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
October 15, 2007

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 Sets At 8:00 & 10:00PM Effective immediately, minimums are $10/person/set for all show except Les Paul - $15 mins. Oct. 17 JIMMY BRUNO Oct. 18-21 EDDIE DANIELS BAND IPO CD Release “Homecoming" EDDIE DANIELS: CLARINET, TENOR SAX, TOM RANIER: PIANO, DAVE FINCK: BASS, LEWIS NASH: DRUMS Opening Night ...
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146

Performance / Tour

Grammy Winner Eddie Daniels Leads off Ellington Series on September 14

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
September 11, 2007

"It is a rare event in jazz where one man can all but reinvent an instrument bringing it to a new stage of evolution." --Leonard Feather Eddie Daniels, the remarkable jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, will perform the first concert of the season on the Yale School of Music's Duke Ellington Fellowship Series on Friday, September 14 at 8:00 pm in Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Hall. Daniels will perform with his quartet, featuring Tom Ranier, piano, Dave Finck, bass, and ...
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139

Recording

Eddie Daniels New 2 CD Set Homecoming Live at the Iridium

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 17, 2007

IPO RECORDINGS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THE NEW EDDIE DANIELS 2 CD SET HOMECOMING LIVE AT THE IRIDIUM

“Eddie Daniels came back to play in the city where he used to grace the bandstands at the Vanguard, Half Note and Village Gate and helped bring forth two special CDs at the Iridium. Quite a homecoming!" Ira Gitler

Eddie Daniels Homecoming Live at the Iridium (2CD Set) (recorded Live@Iridium NYC during his 65th Birthday week Oct. 19-22, 2006)IPO ...
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125

Performance / Tour

Eddie Daniels 65th Birthday Celebration Oct. 19-22 at The Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
October 18, 2006

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 www.iridiumjazzclub.com 8:30 & 10:30PM, Fri. & Sat. 3rd Sets AT MIDNIGHT

Oct. 19-22 EDDIE DANIELS 65TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Joe Locke vibes, David Finck bass, Joe LaBarbera drums Special Guests, Thurs. Oct. 19 PAQUITO DeRIVERA, KEN PEPLOWSKI & RON ODRICH Live Recording For IPO Recordings This Week at Club!

The Iridium ...
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The Davis Enterprise Review: “Los Angeles based pianist, Al Daniels...settles into a comfortable groove on "I'll Be Home for Christmas"...Of the seven solo tracks, my favorites are Daniels' whimsical, toe- tapping arrangement of "Decked Out (the Halls)" and his slowly swinging version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". "Away in a Manger" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" showcase his gentler side; both are lovely readings of these traditional church carols. Daniels is joined by a combo for "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and " A Midnight Samba Clear", and both give ample exposure to trumpeter Mike Figal and guitarist Bryan Clark