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Dan Balmer and Dan Faehnle: The Imagination of Grant Green
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Presented by PDX Jazz.
From coffee house gigs at 15 to chart-topping success with the Tom Grant Band in the ’90s, world tours with two-time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur and contemporary jam-bands, Dan Balmer brings fire and heart every time he plays the guitar. His playing spans nearly 100 albums, including 12 as a leader from which his original works have appeared internationally in television, film and radio.
Dan has performed or toured with Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Les McCann, Javon Jackson and Karrin Allyson, Benny Golson, Jeff Hamilton, Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, Terell Stafford, Ingrid Jensen, Duduka da Fonseca, Kendrick Scott, Taylor Eigsti, Buddy De Franco, Bruce Forman and countless others.
Dan’s love of guitar and making music combined with discipline, technique and restless curiosity provide an ever-deepening experience for himself and his listeners. In every performance he finds himself in the middle of the path, amidst a continuous and compelling process of discovery.
There is little doubt that jazz guitar has entered a new and exciting realm when Dan Faehnle takes the stage. With the technical prowess of a jazz giant, Ohio native Faehnle has made an indelible mark upon the music world, receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike.
From an up-tempo bebop anthem to a languid, emotional reading of a ballad, Faehnle’s nimble fingers caress his guitar. Whether captivating his jazz club audiences or adding the perfect support to a recording project, this young jazz artist is destined to put his name alongside the other guitar greats.
Beginning in 2000, Faehnle stepped into the guitar chair with Diana Krall, performing on numerous world tours, television shows, radio and media events. As an integral part of the Diana Krall quartet for three years, Dan garnered accolades from such publications as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, JazzTimes and Downbeat magazines, as well as many international publications.
While based in Portland, Oregon, Dan established relationships with such legendary jazz artists as Leroy Vinnegar, Chuck Israels, Dave Frishberg and Dick Berk. His ongoing association with these musicians has led to numerous live performances and CD recordings. Faehnle has also worked with such noted musicians as Joey DeFrancesco, Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims and Jeff Hamilton. Other significant colleagues have been Mel Brown, Ron Steen, Nancy King, Dave Friesen and Rebecca Kilgore.