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Dan Dean

Dan Dean is a truly multitalented artist. Dan has achieved national and international recognition as a Bassist, Producer, Composer, and as an audio and recording Engineer.

Dan has performed with the some of the finest musicians and musical organizations of our time, including: Shelly Manne, Howard Roberts, The Great Guitars (Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessell), Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, B.B. King, Eddie Harris, Blue Mitchell and Harold Land, Buddy DeFranco, Donny Hathaway, Tom Scott, Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Ernestine Anderson, Bill (William O.) Smith, Ernie Watts, the Seattle Symphony, Walt Wagner, Seattle Opera, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Mays, Della Reese, Emil Richards/Joe Porcaro and many others.

Dan has received numerous broadcast and film awards including the Cannes Golden Lion, Addy Awards, Telly Awards, Best of the West Awards, Clio Awards, IBA Awards, IBA "Spike" Award, NEA Composition Award recipient in Jazz Composition, One Show Silver Pencil, a Seattle Symphony Orchestra commission to compose "Piece for Electric Bass and Vibraphone", National Jazz Educators Award of Excellence, Rosie Awards and others. The Dan Dean Sample Libraries have thus far won 3 Keyboard Magazine’s “Key Buy” awards, Electronic Musician Magazine’s “Best Buy”, and over the past year an a half have earned a total of 35 stars in Sound On Sound Magazine.

Dan has been a major contributor to music education. He is the author of the widely successful Hal Leonard Series for Electric Bass Method Books 1, 2 and 3, Hal Leonard Electric Bass Studio Series Books 1, 2 and 3, Bass Trax and other related projects. He has been a member of the teaching faculties in Jazz studies and Electric Bass, of Western Washington University, Olympic College and Shoreline College. Dan received his B.A. in 1975 from the University of Washington where he majored in English Composition and Literature. He is also an FAA rated commercial pilot.

Dan is also a member of several professional organizations. He is a member of ASCAP (as a Writer and Publisher), the Society of Composers and Lyricists, AES (Audio Engineering Society) and an AFM member.

Awards

Cannes Golden Lion, Addy Awards, Telly Awards, Best of the West Awards, Clio Awards, IBA Awards, IBA "Spike" Award, NEA Composition Award recipient in Jazz Composition, One Show Silver Pencil, a Seattle Symphony Orchestra commission to compose "Piece for Electric Bass and Vibraphone", National Jazz Educators Award of Excellence, Rosie Awards and others. The Dan Dean Sample Libraries have thus far won 3 Keyboard Magazine’s “Key Buy” awards, Electronic Musician Magazine’s “Best Buy”, and over the past year an a half have earned a total of 35 stars in Sound On Sound Magazine.

Gear

Alembic Persuader custom modified by Mike Lull, Eden WT-550 and WT-260 amps, Eden 210 XST, Thomastik Infeld strings.

Dan Dean: Fanfare For The Common Man

Read "Fanfare For The Common Man" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
May 1, 2021

Songs Without Words (Origin Classical, 2017) opened the door to Dan Dean's giant step into “going vocal"— an innovative approach to his choir-like voice-layering presentations of classical music. Rain Painting (Origin Records, 2021), teaming Dean with guitarist John Stowell, proved a perfect digression into Stowell's distinctive compositions, employing Dean's vocal harmonies, bass playing and drum programming with Stowell's guitars, before Dean's return to the world of classical music with Fanfare For The Common Man. To be clear here: ...

Album Review

John Stowell & Dan Dean: Rain Painting

Read "Rain Painting" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
February 24, 2021

Now here's a uniquely compelling set from two of the Pacific Northwest's great individualists on one of jazz's most stalwart imprints. Guitarist John Stowell and multi-hyphenate Dan Dean have each made their respective marks on many Origin dates in the past. The former's instruments have figured into more than 25 recordings there, from solo sets to duo meetings with Dave Liebman and sideman appearances to a string of albums with collective combo Scenes; and the latter has spanned worlds and ...

Album Review

John Stowell / Dan Dean: Rain Painting

Read "Rain Painting" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
February 23, 2021

Guitarist John Stowell has spent two decades recording for Seattle's Origin records, collaborating with artists such as saxophonists Dave Liebman and Michael Zilber, drummer John Bishop, bassist Jeff Johnson and guitarist Ulf Bandgren. His work with the band Scenes—with Bishop and Johnson, and (twice) saxophonist Rick Mandyck—is particularly noteworthy. Bassist Dan Dean—with a sparser discography than Stowell's—has made more of a name for himself as a producer and audio and recording engineer for the label; but his status as a ...

Album Review

Dan Dean: Songs Without Words

Read "Songs Without Words" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
July 3, 2017

Bassist Dan Dean's original plan for this project was the hiring of sixteen string players to join him in the studio to record a set for solo bass with string orchestra: Vivaldi's Concerto For Lute and Orchestra in D Major, along with music from JS Bach, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakoff and Albononi. The cost for the project proved prohibitive, but the paucity of funds turned out to be the mother of innovation. Dean tackled the project alone, adapting his arrangements to his ...

Album Review

Tom Collier: Across The Bridge

Read "Across The Bridge" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
March 5, 2016

Ruminations on the past, musical or otherwise, are often weighed down by the sediment of sentiment. But it certainly doesn't have to be that way. Looking back can provide an outlet for the imagination to take control, and vibraphonist Tom Collier seems well aware of that. On Across The Bridge, Collier revisits his youth, delivering nine original numbers that touch on a childhood spent on the opposite side of the West Seattle Bridge from where he currently resides. It's a ...

232

Album Review

Dan Dean: 2 5 1

by Bruce Lindsay
April 12, 2010

Take four talented and creative keyboard players, one at a time. Select a few standards, plus one original tune. Pick up your electric bass and join in. Enjoy. The result is 2 5 1, an immediately accessible and inviting album of keyboard and bass duets from Dan Dean and his guests. Of course, the above plan only works if the bassist is as talented as his guest keyboard artists--thankfully, Dean meets that requirement. He's an experienced musician, ...

228

Album Review

Dan Dean: 2 5 1

Read "2 5 1" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
April 11, 2010

Bassist Dan Dean is no stranger to the format of the intimate duo. His teaming with vibraphonist Tom Collier on the superb and aptly titled Duets (Origin Records, 2005) was a bright sparkling gem of a recording. On 2 5 1 he goes for a broader exploration of that sound, pairing up with four of his favorite keyboard players. The generous set, coming in at nearly eighty minutes, opens with the tried and true American Songbook jewel, ...

Recording

A New Duet Release By Dan Dean And George Duke

Source: Yakup Trana
November 7, 2016

Internationally recognized bassist Dan Dean has performed with the some of the finest musicians of our time, including B.B. King, Buddy DeFranco, Donny Hathaway, Tom Scott, Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Ernie Watts, Freddie Hubbard and many others. One of his favorite collaborations of all was with the legendary pianist George Duke, and Seattle-based label Arena Jazz is proud to release for the first time their wonderful duo recording of Gershwin’s immortal “I Loves You Porgy”. Dan says of his friend: “George ...
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"...a phenomenal player." - Jonathan Hererra/Bass Player Magazine

"Man, how I am I supposed to write something with this CD being ALMOST perfect?" - Bruce Bernardini/JazzReview.com

"For all you beginner, intermediate and pro bass players, Dean will put you to shame. His playing is the utmost impeccable, perfect playing I have ever heard." - Bruce Bernardini/JazzReview.com

Dean is an exceptionally articulate and resourceful electric bassist and throughout 251 he proves to be both a supportive role model as well as a soloist who deserves better recognition. - Doug Simpson/Audiophile

2, 5, 1, Dan Dean, bass. "Hey now, when was the last time you read a real good review from me on a recording which includes Hammond B-3 organ on four tunes and accordion (!!!) on two? Maybe never

"...a phenomenal player." - Jonathan Hererra/Bass Player Magazine

"Man, how I am I supposed to write something with this CD being ALMOST perfect?" - Bruce Bernardini/JazzReview.com

"For all you beginner, intermediate and pro bass players, Dean will put you to shame. His playing is the utmost impeccable, perfect playing I have ever heard." - Bruce Bernardini/JazzReview.com

2, 5, 1, Dan Dean, bass. "Hey now, when was the last time you read a real good review from me on a recording which includes Hammond B-3 organ on four tunes and accordion (!!!) on two? Maybe never. Well, hold your horses, ‘cause this one’s darn good!" - George Fendel - Jazz Society of Oregon - Feb, 2010

Electric bassists aren't all that common leading jazz record dates, but Dan Dean found a very unusual approach, which is playing duets with four separate keyboardists. Kenny Werner is a first-call sideman, leader, and soloist. His meeting with Dean in a superb take of the old warhorse "'S Wonderful" is full of twists, turns, and outright surprises, and while their interpretation of "Body and Soul" is considerably more subdued, it nonetheless shimmers. George Duke usually plays electric keyboards (though he did stick to acoustic piano for his Muir Woods Suite), so it is a treat to hear him on grand piano. His funky "It's On" is a catchy riff tune, while their dreamy setting of the standard "Stella by Starlight" reminds straight-ahead fans that Duke's chops are still very potent. It's particularly odd to hear an organ-electric bass duo, since the keyboardist usually handles the bassline by himself. Yet Larry Goldings and Dean work in tandem for an infectious take of "One Note Samba," a soulful "Georgia on My Mind" (with a nod to Ray Charles), and a hip "In Walked Bud." Dean and pianist Gil Goldstein meander into "All the Things You Are" via a side route before incorporating Dizzy Gillespie's famous added introduction, then take it down a more familiar path. Goldstein switches to accordion for "Lover Man" with Dean carrying the melody, possibly one of the most striking interpretations of this jazz standard. While the veteran bassist is better known regionally than nationally, this top-drawer effort should open a few doors for him. - All Music Guide/Ken Dryden

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Author "Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method" Books 1, 2, 3. Author "Hal Leonard Studio Series for Electric Bass" Books 1, 2, 3. Author"Bass Trax" Hal Leonard Publishing Previously Electric Bass Instructor @ Olympic College Shoreline College Western Washington University