Danny Green

Over the past decade, jazz pianist and Origin Records recording artist Danny Green has earned recognition as a bandleader and as a composer with a gift for spinning supple, absorbing narratives. Green’s growing portfolio of vibrant sounds – an enchanting mix of jazz, classical, and Brazilian rhythms – has captured the attention of critics around the world, including DownBeat Magazine, Jazziz, San Diego Union Tribune, the Boston Globe, and Public Radio International. It’s no small wonder that Green has earned two San Diego Music awards for Best Jazz Album and an additional award for Best Jazz Artist. His long- time trio includes bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm, noteworthy musicians in their own right, and together they have developed a nearly psychic connection as they perform Green’s original compositions and jazz standards. Green takes listeners on a journey that is equal parts introspective and exuberant, and always compelling.



Since its formation in 2010, the trio has performed at notable venues, series, and festivals across the county, including the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Shapeshifter Lab (NYC), The Blue Whale (LA), Vibrato Jazz Grill (LA), The Loft @ UCSD, KSDS Jazz 88.3’s Jazz Live, CSU Summer Arts Monterey (residency), the Integrity Jazz festival in North Dakota, The Sound Room (Oakland), Tula’s Jazz Club (Seattle), Jazz Live at Marine View Church (Tacoma), and the KSDS Jazz 88.3 Ocean Beach Jazz Festival.


The trio formed the core band on Green’s highly acclaimed 2012 release, A Thousand Ways Home. Joined by world class jazz artists including Chico Pinheiro, Claudia Villela and Peter Sprague, the album received numerous rave reviews nationwide, rose to #17 on the Jazz Week Charts, and was voted into KSDS Jazz 88.3’s “Top Ten Jazz Releases of 2012.”



In 2014, the Danny Green Trio released the highly-acclaimed album After The Calm on OA2 Records. Featuring ten of Green’s compositions, the album received much praise from the press and nationwide radio play. JazzWax described the album as “A highly impressive album that will knock you out,” and the San Diego Troubadour called it, “Unconditionally recommended to anyone who appreciates good jazz, instrumental music or soundtracks.” After The Calm won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2015 San Diego Music Awards and was nominated for “Album of the Year.”



The trio recorded their 2016 release, Altered Narratives, at New York City’s famed Sear Sound recording studio with award- winning producer Matt Pierson. Released on OA2 Records, the album consists of eleven original compositions by Green. The three tunes at the center of the album feature the trio with a string quartet led by violinist Antoine Silverman, a widely admired New York classical and studio player. All About Jazz critic Dan McClenaghan commented, “There’s nothing that adds a touch of elegance to a jazz set more than an adeptly-done string arrangement, and these are superb; violins, viola and cello in a sinuous, sometimes whispering embrace with a vibrant, top-notch piano trio, delving into Danny Green’s distinguished compositions.” The album remained on the Jazz Week Top 50 chart for fourteen weeks and earned high praise from critics worldwide.



Inspired by the experience of adding a string quartet to his trio, Green continued composing music for the expanded ensemble. The Danny Green Trio Plus Strings’s debut performance at New York City’s Shapeshifter Lab featured members of the New York based chamber ensemble, Hotel Elefant, along with special guest Chico Pinheiro on guitar. Other performances include a live radio broadcast on KSDS Jazz 88.3’s Jazz Live, featuring members of the San Diego Symphony, TEDxSan Diego at Copley Symphony Hall, the Museum of Making Music, and the Western Arts Alliance Juried Showcase in Seattle. NBC San Diego noted , “Green’s acuity for string writing and the seamless integration of the quartet and the improvising trio were nothing short of sterling.” The Danny Green Trio Plus Strings released its first full length album in April 2018 on OA2/Origin Records.   Green is also highly devoted to music education. In addition to teaching private lessons, he is a faculty member of the annual Jazz 88.3 Summer Jazz Workshop, adjunct faculty at Grossmont College, and he presents a jazz appreciation workshop at elementary schools as part of the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library’s outreach program. Green directed the Coronado School of the Arts jazz band from 2014-2017, and was an artist in residence at Canyon Crest Academy and at CSU Summer Arts Monterey.