Female Vocalist Jazz Blues Gospel Symphony Pops Programs

Dee Daniels' Biography

Dee Daniels is a crowd pleaser and a musician’s musician. Whether accompanying her self at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony, she is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling, infused with gospel and blues flavoring, to the stage.

Daniels' style was born in her stepfather's church choir in Oakland, California, honed through the R&B era and brought to full fruition during a five-year stay in Europe from 1982 to 1987. During those years, she had many wonderful opportunities to perform with such 'Legends of Jazz' as Toots Thielemans, Johnny Griffin, Ed Thigpen, and Monty Alexander to name but a few. Two other personal highlights while in Europe include having had the opportunity of singing the Blues with the late, divine Sarah Vaughan in The Netherlands, and singing Gospel with the late great Joe Williams in Germany.

Dee's international career includes performances in eleven African countries, Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in North America and many countries throughout Europe. She has cultivated a diverse career that has seen her on the theatre stage in the musical comedy, Wang Dang Doodle, and the starring role in the 2001 Calgary Stampede.

She has also established herself as a jazz vocalist in demand by the classical music world. She performs her Great Ladies of Swing, and The Soul of Ray: The Music of Ray Charles POPS programs with symphony orchestras across Canada and the USA. A respected vocal clinician and mentor, Dee sincerely believes in sharing her knowledge and experience with young singers/musicians. She is an inspiring motivational speaker.

In 2001, Dee created the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship at the Capilano University in North Vancouver, BC. Also in 2001, she was the recipient of the FANS Award (a North Vancouver, BC Arts Council presentation); was nominated as Vocalist of the Year, and her Love Story CD was nominated for Best Jazz CD of the Year by West Coast Music Awards. In 2002 she was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and a plaque was installed on Vancouver's Walk of Fame.

In 2003 she received the prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and was inducted into the University of Montana's School of Fine Arts, Hall of Honor where she is also a 1997 Distinguished Alumni.

Her JAZZINIT CD was in the Top Ten CDs of 2007 on several polls. In 2008, she was a recipient of Capilano University’s Presidents Service Award. She served on the Advisory Board of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival from 2001 - 2009.

Selected Performance History

International Festivals:
Kobe Jazz Street Festival, Japan; Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Ireland; Teatro Libre International Jazz Festival, Colombia; Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, USA; Rhinegau Musik Festival, Germany; Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Canada; Sarasota Jazz Festival, USA; and more...

Gospel Concerts:
Spain, Sicily, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, United States, Canada, France, and Belgium

In Concert With - Jazz Musicians:
Benny Green, Houston Person, John Clayton, Russell Malone, Clark Terry, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Oliver Jones, Jeff Clayton, Benny Golson, Grady Tate, Hugh Fraser, Toots Thielemans, Jeff Hamilton, Monty Alexander, Ed Thigpen, Ian McDougall, Lewis Nash, Mulgrew Miller, Benny Powell, Christian McBride, Kevin Mahogany, Kenny Washington, Norman Simmons, Johnny Griffin, Ben Riley, Bucky Pizzarelli, and more...

In Concert With - Orchestras:
The Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra, The Berlin Film Orchestra, and The Munich Radio Orchestra, Germany; The Concertgebouw Jazz Orchestra, The Metropole Orchestra, and The North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, The Netherlands; The Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Calgary Symphony Orchestras, Canada; The Detroit, Rochester, Hartford, Tucson, Portland, Dallas, Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, U.S.A., and more...

Special Performances With Past Legends:
Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Dorothy Donegan, Lionel Hampton, Sir Roland Hanna, Al Grey, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, and Elvin Jones.

Discography

“JAZZINIT”, CD by Dee Daniels, featuring Russ Botten, bass; Greg Williamson, drums; and Tony Foster, piano (Origin Records, 2007)

“DEE DANIELS LIVE AT BIBLO”, DVD by Dee Daniels, featuring Jack van Poll, piano; Hein Van de Geyn, Bass; Hans van Oosterhout, drums (Challenge Jazz, 2006)

“SACRED MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON”, CD with Dee Daniels, the Seattle Jazz Repertory Orchestra, the Oregon Repertory Singers, and vocalists James Caddell and Nichol Eskridge (Origin Records 2006)

“CROSSOVER XMAS”, CD with Dee Daniels, the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Le Courage Vocal Ensemble, Jiggs Whigham, Expression 88, the Frankfurt German-American Community Choir, and the Landesjugend Jazzorchester Hessen (Click Records, 2005)

“CROSSOVER XMAS - THE SOUND GOES BIG”, CD with Dee Daniels, the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Le Courage Vocal Ensemble, Expression 88, the Frankfurt German-American Community Choir, and the Landesjugend Jazzorchester Hessen (Click Records, 2007)

“FIRST NAME BASIS” and “SWINGIN’ AFFAIR”, CDs by Gabriel Mark Hasselbach with guest artist, Dee Daniels (Wind Tunnel Music, 2006)

“FEELS SO GOOD!”, CD by Dee Daniels, featuring: Houston Person, tenor sax; Benny Powell, trombone; John Clayton Jr., bass; Norman Simmons, piano; and Kenny Washington, drums. (Three X D Music, 2002)

“LOVE STORY”, CD by Dee Daniels, featuring Houston Person, tenor sax and the Miles Black Trio; Miles Black, piano; Blaine Wikjord, drums; Darren Radtke, bass with appearances by Miles Hill, bass and Finn Manniche, cello. (Three X D Music, 2000). The 2001 PMIA (Pacific Music Industry Association) nominee for “Best Jazz Release”, and “Female Artist of the Year.”

“HOLIDAY POPS WITH THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY”, CD by the VSO with guest artist, Dee Daniels (VSO Records, 2000)

“WISH ME LOVE”, CD recorded live in the studio by Dee Daniels with the Metropole Orchestra of Holland. (Mons Records, 1996) 1997 PMIA (Pacific Music Industry Association) nominee for “Female Vocalist of the Year.”

“DRIP SOME GREASE”, CD by Three Of A Kind, with guest artists Dee Daniels and Benny Golson (Minor Music Records, Germany, 1995)

“CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE SWINGIN’ KIND”, CD by the Johan Clement Trio with guest artist Dee Daniels. (Timeless Records, Holland, 1991)

“LET’S TALK BUSINESS”, CD by Dee Daniels, with Larry Fuller, piano; John Clayton, bass; Jeff Hamilton, drums; Jeff Clayton, sax. (Capri Records, 1990). 1991 NAMA (Northwest Area Music Awards) nominee for “Best Blues CD.”

“THE MUSIC MADE ME SING IT”, Album by Dee Daniels and the Monty Alexander Trio; Monty Alexander, piano; John Clayton, bass; Jeff Hamilton, drums. (Cobra Records, Belgium, 1987)

“ALL OF ME”, CD by Dee Daniels and the Jack van Poll Tree-Oh, (September Records, Belgium, 1984. Re-released in 1991)

...AND SEVERAL OTHER GUEST APPEARANCE & COMPILATION CDS...