Danny Weller

Bass
Recently Added
03/13/2024
Smalls
Jason Yeager Quintet
06/21/2023
Smalls
Jason Yeager Quintet
08/17/2022
Smalls
Jason Yeager Septet
10/06/2017
Smalls
Mark Zaleski Sextet
03/30/2017
Smalls
The Mark Zaleski Band
03/09/2016
Smalls
The Mark Zaleski Sextet
03/18/2015
Smalls
The Mark Zaleski Sextet
08/11/2012
Smalls
Third Story
03/31/2012
Smalls
The Jason Yeager Trio
Upcoming Shows
A professsional bassist since the age of 16, Danny has backed up numerous jazz artists such as Gilbert Castellanos, Geoffrey Keezer, Charles McPherson, Mike Wofford, Peter Sprague, Jason Palmer, Mike Moreno, and Obed Calviere. Danny has also backed artists such as blues-singer Earl Thomas, and Scott Russo of Unwritten Law.Danny attended New England Conservatory in Boston in 2004, where he got to study Jazz performance with Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, John Lockwood, Oscar Stagnaro, Jerry Bergonzi, and Danilo Perez. and in 2005, he performed in the NEC Jazz Honors Ensemble, and their performance of his original composition, The Cranning Call, was selected to represent NEC on Jazziz Magazine’s annual “Education Issue” CD. During his time in Boston, Danny became the steady bassist for the Wally’s Thursday night latin band, featuring among others, Aruan Ortiz and Francisco Mela. His 2005 debut album, “Tree of Thorns,” is a musical dialogue with his dad, Bob Weller, and also featured several original compositions inspired by his love of Sci-Fi literature, but also influenced by elements of experimental improvisation. In May 2006, Danny completed his Bachelor of Music and moved back to San Diego.During his time back home, he joined Gilbert Castellanos’ band, and performed with Gilbert alongside artists such as Willie Jones III, Kevin Kanner, Mahesh Balasooriya, Ramon Banda, Josh Nelson, and Gerald Clayton. Danny got to back Gilbert’s weekly jam session, which featured guest artists such as Nicholas Payton, Ravi Coltrane, Chuchito Valdez, and Charles McPherson. Danny also did several performances of off-Broadway musicals in local San Diego playhouses, including the world premiere of shows such as Sammy and Bonnie & Clyde. In May 2010, Danny moved with his wife to NY. Shortly after moving, he joined the band of Miss Tess, a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn, and performed at hundreds of venues, clubs, and festivals, to audiences ranging from small to over 6,000.Danny's latest recording, Third Story, features guitarist Jeff Miles (winner of 2008 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition), pianist Joshua White (2011 Monk Competition Finalist), and Los Angeles drummer Jens Kuross. A venture into lush piano ostinatos, ambient guitar fills, aggressive rhythmic interplay, and haunting melodies, Third Story features original compositions ranging from straight-ahead swing to Latin, fusion, and “straight-eighths” rhythms influenced by 1970’s ECM recordings. The band plays with melodies of different colors and shapes; sometimes nobody solos, sometimes everybody solos simultaneously. Walls of sound interrupted by moments of pristine simplicity. Third Story explores a realm of sound and force that reads like a favorite book: clear, powerful, and sometimes true.