Dee Daniels

“Daniels’ hearty tones, jazz-wise phrasing and triumphant scat showed why she’s considered among the cream of mainstream jazz vocalists.”—Los Angeles Times.

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 flavouring, 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/or recorded with many ‘Legends of Jazz’ including Benny Green, Houston Person, John Clayton, Russell Malone, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut, Clark Terry, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Barron, Bill Mays, Jeff Clayton, Benny Golson, Grady Tate, Toots Thielemans, Jeff Hamilton, Monty Alexander, Steve Wilson, Marvin Stamm, Lewis Nash, Kenny Washington, Norman Simmons, Ben Riley, Dennis MacKrel, Steve Davis, Martin Wind, Bucky Pizzarelli, Helen Sung, Christian McBride, David Young - to mention a few.

Career highlights include: Teaching at Queens College (NY) 2013 - 2014, being named Artistic Director, in September 2011, of the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival - a camp dedicated to Jazz Vocals with around 60 participating schools; a nomination for Atlanta Theater’s 2010 Suzi Bass Award; the 2009 receipt of an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Arts and 2008 President’s Award, both 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. Her 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.

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 a 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, The Soul of Ray: The Music of Ray Charles, and A Night Out With the Boys, 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 2013, she created the Dee Daniels Vocal Jazz Workshop, a weeklong workshop in Sitka, AK. In 2001, she established the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship at the Capilano University 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 several CDs as a leader to her credit, in addition to being a guest artist on CDs of other artists, including compilation CDs. Visit www.deedaniels.com for further information about her releases, in addition to reviews, performance schedule, gallery, and more.