Harold Danko Explained

Harold Danko
Origin:Sharon, Pennsylvania
Birth Date:13 June 1947
Instrument:Piano
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:1975–present
Label:Inner City, Sunnyside, SteepleChase

Harold Danko (born June 13, 1947 in Ohio) is an American jazz pianist.

Danko attended Youngstown State University. Among his credits are work in the big bands of Woody Herman and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, as well as smaller ensembles with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Lee Konitz.[1] [2] He worked often with Rich Perry in the 1990s and also played with Rufus Reid, Kirk Lightsey, Jeff Hirshfield, Edward Simon, and Gregory Herbert.[3] [4]

In 1999, Danko released a solo piano tribute album to Chet Baker entitled This Isn't Maybe.

Discography

As leader

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
1974Harold Danko QuartetInner CityQuartet, with Gregory Herbert (tenor sax), Dave Shapiro (bass), Jimmy Madison (drums)
1979?CoincidenceDreamstreet
1979?Chasin' the Bad GuysInner City
1982?Mirth SongSunnyside
1983Shorter by TwoSunnysideDuo, with Kirk Lightsey
1983Ink and WaterSunnyside
1985?Alone but Not ForgottenSunnyside
1988?The First Love SongJazz City
1993Next AgeSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1994After the RainSteepleChaseSolo piano
1995New AutumnSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1995–96Tidal BreezeSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1996The Feeling of JazzSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1997Stable MatesSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1997Three of FourSteepleChaseTrio, with Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
1998...This Isn't MaybeSteepleChaseSolo piano
2000NightscapesSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2001Prestigious: A Tribute to Eric DolphySteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dave Ballou (trumpet), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2002Fantasy ExitSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2003Trilix SteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2004HinesightSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2005Oatts & PerrySteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2006Times RememberedSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2007?WonderlandSteepleChaseDuo, with Ron McClure (bass)
2008?EscapadesSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2009?Oatts & Perry IISteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2011?UnrichedSteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2012?Oatts & Perry IIISteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2014?Sweet NowhereSteepleChaseDuo, with Dick Oatts (alto sax)
2015?Lost in the BreezeSteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2016Triple PlaySteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)
2019Play DateSteepleChase
2021Spring GardenSteepleChase
2022Rite NotesSteepleChase

Main source:[5]

As sideman

With Chet Baker

With Thad Jones and Mel Lewis

With Lee Konitz

With Artt Frank & Pat Morrissey [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p10391|pure_url=yes}} Biography: Harold Danko]. Yanow. Scott. Allmusic. 15 June 2010.
  2. Web site: Dixon . Euan . 2023-01-18 . Harold Danko – Rite Notes - Jazz Views . 2024-04-21 . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2024-04-19 . Danko, Harold . 2024-04-21 . Eastman School of Music . en-US.
  4. Web site: Harold Danko Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More . 2024-04-21 . AllMusic . en.
  5. Book: Cook . Richard . Richard Cook (journalist) . Morton . Brian . Brian Morton (Scottish writer) . . 2008 . 9th . . 978-0-14-103401-0 . 330–332.
  6. https://www.thepitchkc.com/arts-entertainment/music/article/20614947/around-hear The Patch News, March 8, 2001