Eddie Daniels
American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, and composer.
Eddie Daniels, born on October 19, 1941, is an American musician and composer. While widely recognized as a jazz clarinetist, his instrumental range also includes the saxophone and flute, and he has performed classical works on the clarinet.
Daniels grew up in a Jewish family in the Manhattan Beach section of Brooklyn, New York City. His mother emigrated from Romania. As a teenager, his interest in jazz was sparked by the musicians backing singers like Frank Sinatra on records. He started on alto saxophone, took up the clarinet at 13, and by age 15 had performed at a youth competition at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Over his career, Daniels has toured, recorded, and appeared on television with numerous bands, small groups, and orchestras. His collaborators include Bucky Pizzarelli, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Joel, Don Patterson, and Richard Davis. In 1968, *DownBeat* awarded him the New Star on Clarinet. For six years, he played tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. On the album *Presenting Joe Williams and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra*, his solo on “Evil Man Blues” was incorrectly attributed to Joe Farrell.
Since the 1980s, Daniels has concentrated primarily on the clarinet. He won a Grammy in 1989 for his work on Roger Kellaway’s arrangement of “Memos from Paradise.” He also performed with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band on their debut album *Swingin’ for the Fences* and was featured in Goodwin’s arrangement of Mozart’s 40th Symphony on the albums *XXL* and *The Phat Pack*.
In 2009, Swiss composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder wrote *MATRIX 21*, a concerto for clarinet and orchestra, for Daniels. Commissioned by the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, it premiered in Lausanne in January 2010 under Christian Zacharias. The American premiere followed on July 18, 2010, at the Crested Butte Music Festival, led by Jens Georg Bachmann.
- born
- October 19, 1941
- field
- Musician, composer
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Jazz clarinetist, also saxophone, flute, classical clarinet
Quick Facts
- Background
- non_vocal_instrumentalist
- Birth Date
- 1941-10-19
- Birth Place
- New York City
- Genre
- Jazz, classical
- Occupation
- Musician
- Instrument
- Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Flute
- Years Active
- 1950s–present
- Label
- Prestige, Columbia, Candid, Muse, GRP, Chesky, Shanachie
- Associated Acts
- The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
- Website
- www.eddiedanielsclarinet.net
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Eddie Daniels was born in New York City to a Jewish family; his mother emigrated from Romania. He was raised in the Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn. He became interested in jazz as a teenager when impressed by musicians accompanying singers like Frank Sinatra on recordings. His first instrument was the alto saxophone. At age 13 he was also playing clarinet, and by 15 he had played at the Newport Jazz Festival youth competition.
Daniels has toured and recorded with a variety of bands, small groups, and orchestras, and appeared on television many times. He played with Bucky Pizzarelli, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Joel, Don Patterson, and Richard Davis. DownBeat gave him the New Star on Clarinet Award in 1968. He was a member for six years of The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, playing tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute. On the album Presenting Joe Williams and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, his solo on "Evil Man Blues" was mistakenly credited to his colleague Joe Farrell.
Since the 1980s, Daniels has focused mainly on the clarinet. In 1989, he won a Grammy Award for his contribution to the Roger Kellaway arrangement of "Memos from Paradise." He worked with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band on the album Swingin' for the Fences. In 2009, Swiss composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder composed MATRIX 21, a Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, for Daniels, premiered in Lausanne in January 2010 and in the United States in July 2010.
Reader's Guide
Eddie Daniels is significant as a versatile musician who bridged jazz and classical clarinet, earning recognition from DownBeat and a Grammy. His career spans decades, with work as both a leader and sideman for major artists like Freddie Hubbard, Billy Joel, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. His discography includes numerous albums as leader from 1966 onward, and he contributed to Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. The composition of a concerto dedicated to him by Daniel Schnyder underscores his impact on contemporary clarinet repertoire. His legacy includes helping to elevate the clarinet in jazz and classical contexts, though his solo on "Evil Man Blues" was famously misattributed.
Did You Know?
- Daniels' first instrument was the alto saxophone.
- He played at the Newport Jazz Festival youth competition at age 15.
- His solo on 'Evil Man Blues' was mistakenly credited to Joe Farrell.
- He won a Grammy in 1989 for his contribution to 'Memos from Paradise.'
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