Choose artist...

Projects

Artist: Eddie Daniels
Projects per page:
Eddie Daniels:

Bridges

Eddie Daniels is that rarest of rare musicians who is not only equally at home in both jazz and classical music, but excels at both with breathtaking virtuosity. Expert testimony from the jazz world comes from the eminent jazz critic Leonard Feather, who said of Eddie, "It is a rare event in jazz where one man can all but reinvent an instrument bringing it to a new stage of revolution." From the classical side, Leonard Bernstein said "Eddie Daniels combines elegance and virtuosity in a way that makes me remember Arthur Rubenstein. He is a thoroughly well-bred demon."

Eddie first came to the attention of the jazz audience as a tenor saxophonist with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. When Thad and Mel first organized their band in 1966 to play Monday nights at the Village Vanguard in New York (where it still plays), Eddie was one of the first musicians they called. Later that year, he sank $400 in a round-trip flight to Vienna to enter the International Competition for Modern Jazz, a contest organized by the pianist Fredrich Gulda and sponsored by the city of Vienna, and won first prize on saxophone. He continued working with Thad and Mel over the next several years and toured Europe extensively with them.

Eddie Daniels is clearly a renaissance musician, a virtuoso in both jazz and classical music, recipient of unreserved accolades from his peers, from critics, and from the public. Eddie's overriding ambition is to reach as many people as possible with his music, to enlarge the audience for both jazz and classical music and at the same time to tear down the walls separating them. In Eddie's hands, the music of Mozart can be as engaging as that of Charlie Parker and a concert featuring both can be a uniquely rewarding experience for the audience.

Eddie Daniels and Frank Proto join together with a String Quintet and a 22-piece String Orchestra for two complete programs of new works that bridge the gap between jazz and classical. In brilliant performances captured live and in the studio this DVD/CD combination Bridges, features world premiere performances of new Frank Proto works written for Daniels, including the: 'Sextet for Clarinet and Strings', 'Sketches of Gershwin for Clarinet and String Orchestra', & 'Preludes for Clarinet and String Orchestra' to 'I Loves you Porgy' and 'Fascinating Rhythm.' The package also includes permiere performances of new arrangements for clarinet and Strings/String Orchestra of Gershwin's 'Soon', 'Love is Here to Stay' & 'The Man I Love.' All performances were done in 24-bit Audio, and DVD includes interviews, program notes, and biographies.