Daniel began his musical journey at the age of 5, when his extreme interest in music encouraged his parents to enroll him in piano lessons. By age 7 he was already composing his own material.
“After playing Billy Joel albums on my turntable and falling in love with his music and the piano, I had set my mind to becoming a professional songwriter and musician. I loved everything about it, both the music and 'the scene'.”
His early works included both strictly instrumental pieces as well as songs with vocals, which would be a prelude of things to come.
When asked about the diversity of his music, Daniel largely attributes the roots of his love for various styles to his father, Ed, who listened to classical, country, folk, rock, and pop.
“I remember long car rides with my parents and listening to artists like Beethoven, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Peter, Paul and Mary, Neil Diamond and The Eagles.”
He later discovered jazz in high school through a fellow musician who gave him a cassette tape of Larry Carlton.
Daniel reminisces, “Listening to Carlton lit a fire in me and made me want to understand music on a deeper level. “Not only did I want to learn to play guitar like him, I wanted to write and perform contemporary jazz.”
By the time he entered high school Daniel was well versed in both piano and guitar, and was also beginning to sing. During those years he began to further develop his abilities to write along with learning to record, engineer, and produce by working with a few different bands he formed.
At the age of 16, he formed his first “serious band” called The Fragile Connection, which was comprised of musicians from Stony Brook, NY where he attended high school. That year he co-wrote 16 songs ranging from acoustic to full on rockers with his bandmates. To close out the school year, the band performed a full length concert which was documented through both audio and video recordings. This experience of writing, rehearsing and performing original music pushed him further towards pursuing a career in music.
“There is a certain 'rush' you get when you are performing, but even more so when you are presenting your own music. It doesn't hurt when people express that they like your music, either!”
In 1992 Daniel moved to Madison, WI where he began to focus more on his piano playing, performing and composing, putting together his first jazz ensemble “DA and Cross Examination”, which included a full rhythm and horn section. The band performed all of his original contemporary jazz works, which highlighted his increasing interest in jazz instrumental music.
During that time he was also composing solo piano works, a combination of classical and jazz, that would eventually lead to the recording of 2 albums worth of original material.
In 1997 Daniel released the first of his 3 solo piano albums, Fingerpainting: Images and Impressions for the Ears. Shortly after the album was released, he began what would be come a three year tour to support the album. In addition to clubs, bars, and coffee houses across the country, his travels took him on a steady circuit of Borders Bookstores from Minneapolis to NY.
Daniel's music was well received by both the booking agents for Borders as well as fans. The Borders tour was a huge success, with over $65,000 worth of album sales.
He later released “Return to Stony Brook”(1999), another solo album highlighting his solo piano compositions. The album was recorded in the same theater in Stony Brook, NY where he performed in high school.
The subsequent “Christmas Sketches”(2000), featured Daniel's versions and solo piano improvisations of more obscure Christmas music.
“Imagination”(2001) which was the last album concieved during the “Borders years” is a collection of jazz standards which he performed and recorded with his jazz quartet.
After deciding to take some time off from the road, Daniel opened Boxcar Music Studios in Madison, WI in 2002. Working with a wide range of solo artists and bands, Daniel built Boxcar Studios into one of the premier recording facilities in the region. His work at the studio is credited across more than 30 albums, and also includes hundreds of tracks in varying roles from session musician to producer.
Daniel found a love for recording via Boxcar, but he found that his true calling was as a producer.
“I love being able to take someone else's music and help them create an even better sound than what they heard when they first wrote it. I have had some fantastic bands, songwriters, and studio musicians to work with which made my job as a producer even easier. It was in the studio where I really learned how to work with other musicians, and how to get the best out of them.”
In 2004, Daniel formed No. 27, an all original rock band comprised of some of the most talented session players from Boxcar Studios. The band was designed to showcase the rock and Americana songs he had been writing during his previous tour.
“Composing jazz and piano instrumentals was a rewarding experience for me, but my musical heartbeat has always been in the rock and Americana arena and I wanted to get back writing and performing that music.”
The band's only release was a 5 song EP entitled “Wanted”. Unfortunately, No. 27 was short lived, as sometimes happens in the music business. This left Daniel with hours of music left to record, which was a venture he had to put on hold due to the increasing workload of studio sessions and a steadily increasing touring schedule.
At the same time, Daniel began to also tour with Centerstage, one of the premier casino and festival showbands in the Midwest. Working with the band as a guitarist and vocalist, he developed a reputation of being a high energy performer, entertainer, and showman. After 6 years of touring, playing venues ranging from small town bars, to Summerfest, Daniel decided to refocus his energy on the album of originals he put on hold.
Currently, Daniel spends his days songwriting, teaching, performing, recording, and producing.
In addition to his solo appearances, Daniel also plays regularly in an acoustic duo called Josey Wails. In addition, he can be found tearing up the stage with Street Talk, a tribute to Journey and other arena rock.
Daniel has just completed his newest album titled “Weight and Sea”, which is best described as an eclectic combination of full out rock, Americana, and acoustic tunes. A tour in support of the album is now in the planning stages.
