Home » Jazz Musicians » Dan Nimmer

Dan Nimmer

Dan Nimmer was born in 1982 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An old soul in a young body, Mr. Nimmer plays with the spirit, the passion and the soul of someone who has been on the planet much longer. With prodigious technique and innate sense of swing, his playing often recalls that of his own heroes, specifically Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Erroll Garner and Art Tatum.

As a young man, Mr. Nimmer's family inherited a piano and he started playing by ear; he was, if you will, "called" by the instrument. Soon, he asked his parents for some piano lessons. He then began to study classical music with pianist Barbara Bunge. It wasn't long before he was studying with jazz pianist Mark Davis at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he began playing gigs in Milwaukee with renowned saxophonist Berkley Fudge.

Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Nimmer left Milwaukee to study music at Northern Illinois University. It didn't take him long to become one of Chicago's busiest piano players. He was making his mark on the scene playing with all of the Chicago heavyweights. It was because of this that Mr. Nimmer decided to leave school following his second year and make the big move to New York City where he immediately emerged into the New York scene.

After being in New York for about a year, playing with many different musicians, Mr. Nimmer got a recommendation to play in Wynton Marsalis' band. In 2005, Wynton heard him and hired him to become a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, both in which he has been member ever since..

In addition to Wynton Marsalis, Mr. Nimmer has performed and or recorded with Jimmy Cobb, Norah Jones, Dianne Reeves, George Benson, Frank Wess, Clark Terry, Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Cassandra Wilson, Benny Golson, Lewis Nash, Peter Washington, Ed Thigpen, Wes "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Fareed Haque and many more.

Nimmer has appeared numerous times on television including the The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, The Late Show w/ David Letterman, The View, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Kennedy Center Honors, Live From Abbey Road, Live From Lincoln Center-PBS. You can also catch him in Apple's video I-pod commercial "Sparks". He has released four of his own albums on the Venus label.

Tags

3
Album Review

Glenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...

5
Album Review

Glenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Jack Bowers


When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names “Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), “Preludes for Memnon," “Wisdom of the Humanities" and “Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasing—but it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...

9
Album Review

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis: The Democracy! Suite

Read "The Democracy! Suite" reviewed by Paul Rauch


There is an interesting generational divide in perception when it comes to the music of Wynton Marsalis. While many hail his work at Lincoln Center as elevating jazz to its rightful place among the fine arts, others lament the separation from his iconic quartet and quintet work in the 1980's as some sort of jazz treason. What is unquestionable is his virtuosity and eloquence, expressing each note with beauty as the clear priority in his playing as a ...

499
Album Review

Dan Nimmer Trio: Yours Is My Heart Alone

Read "Yours Is My Heart Alone" reviewed by Marcia Hillman


Pianist Dan Nimmer needs to change his name to Dan Nimble--for agile are his fingers as he navigates through a selection of pop and jazz standards as well as a couple of originals on this trio album with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash along for the ride. And what a ride it is. Nimmer's choice of material encompasses a wide range of composers including Oscar Peterson, Wes Montgomery, Johnny Hodges, Gil Evans and Paul Chambers as well as ...

Read more articles

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Democracy! Suite

Blue Engine Records
2021

buy

Transformation

Tiger Turn
2021

buy

Sofijazz

Archival Records
2020

buy

All The Things You Are

CBS Associated Records
2012

buy

Yours Is My Heart...

Venus Records
2008

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.