Biography

Danny Piers is rapidly emerging as one of the rising stars of his generation. 

Danny is a British-Spanish jazz pianist and composer based in London. He taught himself jazz piano in his late teenage years after falling in love with the music of Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. After having established firm roots in the swing tradition whilst studying with renowned pianist John Turville, he began to experiment with more contemporary sounds – absorbing the music of John Taylor, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Shai Maestro.

In recent years, Danny has worked closely under the guidance of acclaimed musicians such as Julian Joseph OBE, Shai Maestro, Bruno Heinen, Matthew Bourne and Steve Willamson, and is about to graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. He has developed a fearless and physical approach to improvisation which is rooted in rhythm, lyricism and transportation.  

Danny has been praised for his moving and expressive performances, with high energy spontaneous interplay being a defining feature of his trio. His receptive ears, pianistic prowess and daring energy combine to transport him and the audience into magical spaces. Danny plays from the heart, and his performances stem from a desire to share the beauty and unity of music.

Writing music that is harmonically rich, lyrical and intimate, Danny has a unique voice as a composer and seeks to explore the connections between different genres of music from around the globe. His compositions have been influenced by his deep love for the music of Maurice Ravel, Shai Maestro, John Taylor, Wayne Shorter and Prokofiev among others.

Danny has worked with artists such as Steve Williamson, Tony Kofi, Gareth Lockrane and Xhosa Cole. He is the pianist in the new and exciting Byron Wallen Quintet, composing music for the group as well. He recently performed at the Barbican Centre with trumpet legend Charles Tolliver alongside Larry Bartley, Darrell Green, Camille Thurman, Jean Toussiant, Byron Wallen and Denys Baptiste. Danny also leads his own trio who perform his music throughout London.

Danny was one of the few selected to compete at the 15th Unisa International Solo Jazz Piano Competition in January 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. He has played at venues such as Barbican, Southbank Centre, the Vortex Jazz Club, World Heart Beat, Eastfield Jazz Club and The Verdict among others.