Jazz Piano at center stage with ensembles of varying sizes, from jazztets to orchestras; straight ahead jazz to contemporary jazz, includes some vocals.

10 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo



Details:
Themes In Search Of A Movie
Film Music Composed and Arranged by Al Daniels

Thank You for supporting this project. This is not a new project I completed it in 1999 to satisfy requirements for a Master's Degree. There was enough music for me to release it on a CD, which I did on MP3.com. That website is still around today but no longer supports the many independent artists that relied on them to manufacture and deliver CD's. (Alas, the realities of big company mergers..:) Which is why I am now re-releasing these tunes. They have been re-mastered as well. So, sonically the sound is improved from the old mp3.com version.

This CD project is dedicated to Paul R. LaPierre whose journey with us was much too short. He gave a lot to the world while he was here, but in 2003, cancer claimed him (see footnote*). Without his encouragement this music would not have been made. 'Imaginary Movie' is for you... A few more Thank You's: to God, to my parents... my first music teachers, to all the film composers who have inspired me. Big Thanks to Bryan Clark, Steve Alaniz, Chuck Johnson, and Mica Fisher for helping with this project...to my piano teachers and students, to Jim Weld my engineer, and to You, my audience...we artists need you!

BIO

Al Daniels is an accomplished, well rounded artist and musician. While still in high school he won his first award for his musical talents. His classical performance on piano in the Young Musicians Competition (sponsored by Pepsi) won him a new piano and an appearance with the San Francisco Symphony. So, it was no surprise when he won recognition in the recent Jazziz Magazine Keyboards on Fire Competition for his original jazz composition "Intimate Pursuit". He was featured in the April 97 issue of that magazine.

He was drawn to the piano at age 7, playing mostly by ear. After some formal lessons, he moved onto classical study with Bay Area pianist Jules Haywood. By the end of high school, he had won the Young Musicians Award and continued on to two years of college at San Francisco State University. Upon entering college he was equally adept at playing jazz piano because of his talent for playing by ear. He was further guided in jazz playing by John Handy, who was just beginning the jazz studies program at State.

His progress towards a bachelors degree was continued at Cornish Institute in Seattle, WA. There he studied with bassist Gary Peacock, trombonist Julian Priester, and pianist Art Lande. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornish and was awarded a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) Degree. He recently completed study requirements and has been awarded a Master of Music Degree from Californina State University, Los Angeles. His CD "Themes in Search of A Movie" was submitted to satisfy requirements for that degree. It is a collection of movie themes for fictitious movies, or movies not yet made.

Performing mostly in the Los Angeles area, he leads his won ensemble. Most recently he has appeared providing keyboards for saxophonist Ronnie Laws, and the award winning jazz group CJS Quintet. As co-founder/keyboardist/arranger of the Riverside-San Bernardino group JASPER he wrote original music for that group which featured stellar reed players such as Gerald Albright, Everette Harp, Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione and many others.

In addition to playing keyboards Daniels is a vocalist as well. Two vocal numbers appear on his "Life in the Balance" CD, and he sings âImaginary Movieâ on this new CD. He has also written songs for the gospel group The Jackson Family which have been released on A&M Records and Sony/Epic Records.

*Footnote
A part of your purchase is being donated to City of Hope Cancer Center in Paulâs name. I keep hearing of friends and loved ones who are dealing with this serious illness, some surviving, others not so fortunate. This is my way of fighting back and honoring someone very special. Maybe one day none of us will know anything about cancer! You can do more if you feel as I do at:
www.cityof hope.org