Eddie Daniels

Clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Eddie Daniels was born in New York City and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He became interested in jazz as a teenager when he was impressed by the musicians accompanying singers, such as Frank Sinatra, on recordings. Daniels’ first instrument was the alto saxophone, and by the age of 15 he had played at the Newport Jazz Festival youth competition. At the age of 13, he was also playing clarinet. Eddie played tenor sax with The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in the mid 1960’s where he earned a Downbeat Award for the Best New Star on the clarinet.

Daniels has toured and recorded with a variety of bands, small groups and orchestras, and appeared on television many times. Since the 1980s, he has focused mainly on the clarinet. He has been able to blend a quasi-classical style music with swinging jazz and never ceases to astound listeners all over the world. In 1989, he won a Grammy Award for his contribution to the Roger Kellaway arrangement of Memos from Paradise. He has also played with artists such as Freddie Hubbard, Richard Davis, Don Patterson, Bucky Pizzarelli, and many other notables.

On the podcast you can listen to my conversation with Eddie where he relates wonderful stories about his background and experiences in the music world.