Born: February 9, 1972 Primary Instrument: Piano
Daniela Schaechter started early her musical career: by her mid-teens was already performing publicly in Sicily, Italy, as well as doing studio session work. After her classical studies she moved to Boston MA as recipient of a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where she studied with Phil Wilson, Joe Lovano, Hal Crook and above all with Joanne Brackeen. Daniela has won many prestigious awards, such as the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition 2005, The Sister in Jazz Competition 2002, the Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Competition 2002, the Terri Lyne Carrington Endowed Scholarship, the Tindari 93, Prize for the best jazz duo with her brother Davide and also she appeared in the Jazziz magazine collector's CD (July 2001). She was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to the Henry Mancini Institute for one month; there she met Billy Childs her favourite composer. The musicians that had the most influence in her music are Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Paul McCandless, Thelonious Monk, Bela Bartok, Maurice Ravel.
Daniela has performed at the Brass Group Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Fest, the Cape May Jazz Festival, the Cleveland Jazz Fest with the Rainbow Big Band, the International Trumpet Guilt Conference, the Kennedy Center, the Sarasota Jazz Festival, the Cape Code Jazz Festival, The Blue Note with The Tiger Okoshi Quartet, the Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops and Patti Austin, the Ravinia Jazz Festival with the Count Basie Big Band and the Hollywood Bowl.
Daniela has performed with John Clayton Jr. and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, John Dankworth, the New York Voices, Terri Lyne Carrington, Patti Austin, Regina Carter, Christian McBride, Ingrid Jensen, Tiger Okoshi, Shirley Horn, Al McKibbon and Phil Wilson among others.
She has also been conducted by Quincy Jones, Patrick Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, John Clayton Jr., Elmer Bernstein, Bob Brookmeyer, Justin DiCioccio and Phil Wilson.
Daniela Schaechter resides in NYC.She is currently teaching at Berklee College of Music and she is leading her group in several NYC venues: she will be at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in April. Among her past performances the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival and the Java Jazz Festival. Her first CD Quintet is available on www.cdbaby.com. Her second CD, I colori del mare which features Gene Jackson, Jimmy Greene and Alex Sipiagin was recently released on Splasc(H) Records. She is now Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music Boston MA.
You can go to www.myspace.com/danielaschachter
“ She is an accomplished pianist, a great singer and, her musicians are top notch.” (Mark Miller- Roberta on the Arts)
“This lady is a truly gifted musician…!” (Rufus Reid)
“The Italian-born Schächter never seemed to run out of ideas. Often unfurling long, cascading runs, she balanced fluid improvisations with a soulful touch, adding subtle harmonic accents here and there…” (Mike Joyce �” The Washington Post)
“She got a solo piano spot in John Danksworth’s chart on which she was so sweet and so gentle and so hip that she made Bill Evans sound like Little Richard…” (Tony Gieske)
“Daniela Schächter is one of the Umbria Jazz Clinics success stories…” (Mitchell Feldman �” Down Beat)
“When Composer and pianist Daniela Schächter works on her music she focuses on matters that go beyond scales and chords…” (Rob Hochschild �” Berklee Editor)
“In her CD ‘Quintet’ we car hear that in her voice, in her intense interpretation, in her clean sound there is an ascending talent. She might be the new Diana Krall…” (Sergio Di Giacomo �” La Gazzetta del Sud)
