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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.

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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

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

B.M. Cornish Institute
M.M. CSU Los Angeles Available Weekends
Reasonable Hr. Rates

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Brasiliana

Dan3Music
2020

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Grand Piano Stories

Self Produced
2011

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Christmastime

Danthree Music
2006

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The Way to You

From: Grand Piano Stories
By Al Daniels

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