Danny Green

San Diego has launched some amazing jazz artists and Danny Green, a native of Southern California, is swiftly following in their footsteps. At twenty-nine years old he has managed to carve out a place for himself in the lineup of young jazz artists who seem to have a pulse on keeping the tradition of jazz piano alive while stepping boldly into the future through the use of cultural sounds and world music rhythms.

Green is equally versed in Classical, Jazz and Latin styles beginning his musical studies listening to his father play violin with his quartet and studying piano at the age of five. He shifted his attention towards Jazz and Latin music while in High School and has never turned back being first inspired by Ruben Gonzalez.

Green received his B.A. in piano performance at UCSD, where he graduated with honors and won the Jimmy Cheatham Jazz Award. He received his Master's Degree in Music (Jazz Studies) from SDSU in 2011, and was awarded Outstanding Graduate Student as well as several scholarships. He has studied with Rick Helzer, Kamau Kenyatta, Anthony Davis, Otmaro Ruiz, Marcos Silva, Jovino Santos-Neto, Guinga, Chico Pinheiro, Edu Ribeiro, Marcio Bahia and in classical studies with John Mark Harris and Luciane Cardassi. Green also credits the CA Brazil Camp for developing his understanding of authentic Brazilian style and substance having participated in their program since 2006. Since that time, he has been playing with some top musicians including Peter Sprague, Eva Scow, Aaron Serfaty, Duncan Moore, Mike Holguin, Julien Cantelm and Justin Grinnell. In 2006 he produced and released a CD with the group, Caballero-Verde Quintet, entitled Past Due which received some international attention.

Green doesn’t waste any time revealing himself on his solo debut CD, With You In Mind. One of the next generations of pianists that offer the kind of depth and passion for music that will quench a jazz lovers thirst, Green serves it up with intense flavor and sometimes an unexpected kick. The album received extensive airplay around the globe rising to #18 on the National Jazz Radio Charts, and won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. Green began working on With You In Mind in November 2007 after producing the Afro-Cuban Jazz inspired album, Past Due (which featured trumpet, bass, drums, percussion and a very young Danny Green). In With You In Mind he focuses on Brazilian influences cradled in mainstream jazz and classical nuances. Aside from "Suite For The Americas,” all of the pieces on this album are original compositions. Green is currently producing his third album, A Thousand Ways Home, which will feature thirteen of his latest compositions. He is joined by his regular band mates Justin Grinnell, Julien Cantelm, and Tripp Sprague, along with special guest artists Eva Scow, Peter Sprague, Dusty Brough, Claudia Villela and world renowned Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro. 

As a result of Green’s musical influences his sound comes across to listeners as a pianistic mixture of jazz, Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz and classical music with original compositions emerging from the sincerity of his soul. Green understands the essential nature of jazz and shares his joy with other musicians while continuing his quest for greater musical accomplishments. “I think more than anything, the musicians that I play with motivate me to play. I feel fortunate to work with such great musicians and I always find myself inspired to play when I'm with them and the constant desire to improve. One of the things I love about music is that you can always keep aiming higher, and the effort is always worth it.” Danny Green is definitely a pianist with something to say leading him to a successful musical future.