Danny Gottlieb is one of the most popular drummers in jazz and contemporary music. While best known as a founding member of the original Pat Metheny Group, Danny, during the past 50 years, has recorded or performed with John Mclaughlin, Gil Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby McFerrin, Gary Burton, Stan Getz, Airto and Flora Purim, Chick Corea, Sting, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, The Manhattan Transfer, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, The Blues Brothers Band featuring Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd, Booker T and The MG’s, Bobby Rydell, Michael Franks, The Vanguard Monday Night Band, George Gruntz Big Band, the WDR, NDR, SWR and HR Big Bands, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, Maria Schneider, Jeff Berlin, Mark Egan, and many more. Danny has been featured on over 500 recordings to date, including 15 Grammy Nominees, and 4 Grammy Award Winners.
Since 2004, Danny and his wife Beth have been members of actor / musician/ philanthropist Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, and have performed more than 600 concerts for military charities around the world for the Gary Sinise Foundation. Danny and Beth also play the Candlelight Christmas Show at Disney World’s Epcot World Showcase, where they originally met Gary.
Danny was a longtime student of famed Brubeck drummer Joe Morello and also studied with Mel Lewis, Harold Jones. Gary Chester, Ed Soph, Rakalam Bob Moses, Airto, and Jack De Johnette.
In addition to his performing and recording career, Danny, is a Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. An avid music collector and researcher, Danny helped create a jazz archive at the UNF Carpenter Library featuring the collection of NY concert promoter Jack Kleinisnger, who produced more than 330 jazz concerts. It is arguably the greatest collection of live jazz recordings. The archive also features the works of UNF founder Rich Matteson, and Professor Emertis Bunky Green (digitalcommons.unf.edu).
Danny has also co-authored world a world acclaimed drumming textbook with Basie / Tony Bennett legend Harold Jones (Interpretation of Big Band Swing Drumming https://www.amazon.com/Harold-Jones-Interpretation-Swing-Drumming/dp/172077269X) and another analyzing the playing of Mel Lewis in the Terry Gibbs Dream Band (https://www.amazon.com/Terry-Gibbs-Mel-Lewis-Drumming/dp/B0BS7GHZFB
Danny has previously performed at JEN with Chuck Owen’s Jazz Surge, and with guitarist Tom Wolff and morer recently as a featured guest with the University of North Florida JE 1 Big Band , led by JB Scott.
Danny is also fetured on more than 30 live video recordings with keyboadist Pat Coil and bassist Jake Jezziro, with guests including Saxophonists Joel Frahm and Sam Levine, singers Jamiee Paul and Larry Gatlin, guitarists Ted Ludwig and Jack Jezzero, and trumpeter Leif Shires, and the Star City Symphony. They can be found on You Tube.
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The Gottlieb/Danielsson Group, with Hans Backenroth & Harry Watters
Thursday, January 8, 2026
5:00 PM - 5:50 PM CST
