Female Vocalist Jazz Blues Gospel Symphony Pops Programs

Dee Daniels' Biography

Whether accompanying her self at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony, Dee Daniels' musical career is as varied as her four-octave vocal range is thrilling. She is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling, infused with gospel and blues flavoring, to the stage. One critic says, "Daniels' voice has a hypnotic quality, delivering an impressive range that gives the romantic songs and verse of 50 years ago new life and raw emotion."

Though Dee has a B.A. Degree in Art Education and taught high school art for a year in Seattle, she quickly realized that her true calling was music. Her vocal style was born in her stepfather's church choir in Oakland, California, refined through the R&B era, polished during a five-year stay in The Netherlands and Belgium from 1982 to 1987, and brought to full fruition upon her return to North America. During those years to the present, she has performed and recorded with many 'Legends of Jazz' including Toots Thielemans, Houston Person, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Ed Thigpen, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, Hank Jones, Bill Charlap, and Russell Malone – to mention a few.

Dee's international career includes performances in twelve African countries, Australia, South America, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, throughout North America, and many countries within Europe. Career highlights include the 2009 receipt of an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine and Applied Arts and 2008 President's Award from Capilano University; 2003 recipient of the prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and induction into the University of Montana's School of Fine Arts Hall of Honor as well as a 1997 University of Montana Distinguished Alumni Award; a 2002 inductee into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame with a plaque installed on Vancouver's Granville Street Walk of Fame; and a command performance for the King and Queen of Belgium's 25th Wedding Anniversary. Sharing the stage while singing the blues with the late Sarah Vaughan, and singing gospel and blues with the late Joe Williams remains at the top of her list!

Dee has cultivated a diverse career that has also seen her on theatre stages including the 2009 premiere of New York choreographer, Twyla Tharp's, new musical, Come Fly Away, and, as an inspirational speaker, with her most recent keynote address being delivered at the 2009 Women's CEO & Senior Management Summit in Toronto.

With the creation of her Symphony Pops programs, Great Ladies of Swing and The Soul of Ray: The Music of Ray Charles, Dee has enjoyed sharing stages with symphony orchestras across the USA and Canada. She has toured with the Nord Netherlands Symphony Orchestra; performed Songs From Disney Movies with the Munich Radio Orchestra; recorded her Wish Me Love CD with The Metropole Orchestra of Holland; and recorded the Holiday Pops CD with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She is the guest vocalist on the 2006 Crossover Xmas and the 2007 Crossover Xmas: The Sound Goes Big CDs recorded with the Philharmonie Baden-Baden of Germany.

A respected vocal clinician, adjudicator, and mentor, Dee presents clinics, workshops, and master classes around the world. In 2001, she established the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship at the Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC. She served on the advisory board of the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival from 2002 – 2008, and has received several awards for her contribution in the field of music performance, music education, and community service.

Dee has many CDs to her credit as a leader, guest artist, and on compilation CDs. Visit www.deedaniels.com for further information about her releases in addition to reviews, performance schedule, gallery, and more.

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...