Dan Knight
Encyclopedia
Dan Knight Jazz pianist, composer
, educator, author
. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa
, 1953. His early piano education was in the classical tradition; his first piano teacher, Tillie Maither, was a former student of Ignace Jan Paderewski. His interest in jazz began at an early age, and by age seven he was already transcribing the works of Dave Brubeck
, Erroll Garner
and Duke Ellington
. In 1958, on seeing NBC Television's "The Subject Is Jazz," the first ever television series on the subject of jazz, and whose Musical Director was jazz pianist Billy Taylor
, he knew he had to become a jazz pianist, too.
Knight later became a student and protégé of Dr. Billy Taylor
, who himself had been a protégé of Art Tatum
. He was invited to become a member of the worldwide Steinway Artist Roster in 1996. His international performances include three consecutive performances in the Acoustic Concerts Series (1997, 1998 and 1999) at the Montreux Jazz Festival
. His suite for solo piano and spoken word, "The Walt Whitman
Suite," was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
in Music.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, educator, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 1953. His early piano education was in the classical tradition; his first piano teacher, Tillie Maither, was a former student of Ignace Jan Paderewski. His interest in jazz began at an early age, and by age seven he was already transcribing the works of Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
, Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner
Erroll Louis Garner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard...
and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. In 1958, on seeing NBC Television's "The Subject Is Jazz," the first ever television series on the subject of jazz, and whose Musical Director was jazz pianist Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in...
, he knew he had to become a jazz pianist, too.
Knight later became a student and protégé of Dr. Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in...
, who himself had been a protégé of Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
. He was invited to become a member of the worldwide Steinway Artist Roster in 1996. His international performances include three consecutive performances in the Acoustic Concerts Series (1997, 1998 and 1999) at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
. His suite for solo piano and spoken word, "The Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
Suite," was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in Music.