Eddie Daniels Biography

Eddie Daniels (born 19 October 1941) is a prolific American musician. Though he is most well-known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones and flute, as well as classical music on the clarinet.

Daniels was born in New York City to a Jewish family. He was raised in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He became interested in jazz as a teenager when he was impressed by the musicians accompanying singers, such as Frank Sinatra, on recordings. Eddie's first instrument was the alto saxophone, and by the age of 15 he had played at the Newport Jazz Festival youth competition. By the time he entered college, he was also playing clarinet.

Daniels has toured and recorded with a variety of bands, small groups and orchestras, and appeared on television many times. Since the 1980s he has focused mainly on the clarinet. In 1989 he won a Grammy Award for his playing on the Roger Kellaway arrangement of Memos from Paradise.

Eddie Daniels has played with Thad Jones, and most recently has been featured as a guest artist on the album "Swingin' For The Fences" the first album by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He was also featured on the Big Phat Band's newest album "The Phat Pack" on "Under The Wire"