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Dannie was born in Chicago, Illinois and began her musical
adventures at the tender age of 4, learning piano from
her mother Lin Balser. After moving to Los Angeles and
later to Sacramento, at age 11 Dannie began to study classical
piano with noted Sacramento pianist and teacher
Dilworth Simmons with whom she studied until beginning college.
During her college years at CSU Sacramento,
Dannie developed an interest in jazz and studied jazz
piano and theory for several years with Sacramento
based jazz legend Jerry Murphy. Although for the past
16 years she's been better known as a jazz trumpeter
and vocalist, Dannie actually began her jazz career
as a pianist with the Tuleburg Jazz Band in 1983.
While her career began with the piano,
her interest in the trumpet began far earlier than
that. At a live performance at her High School of famous
trumpeter Raphael Mendez, Dannie became mesmerized
by his incredible trumpet sound. Years past, but then
after being inspired once again, this time by famous
trumpet player, teacher, and jazz educator Mike Vax,
Dannie finally began the study of trumpet with Vax
in 1986, and has continued to study with him for almost
20 years.
In the spring of 1990, Dannie focused
her energies exclusively on the trumpet and formed
the Midnight Rose Jazz Band.Coming from a family heritage
rich in brass players, her grandfather and great grandmother
were both cornet players, it's perhaps not so surprising
that she has found a niche in the role of jazz trumpeter.
Dannie has also made something of a name
for herself as a jazz educator. She has taught at the
Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society's Jazz Camp for
Kids for 16 years. Over her 24 year history with the
STJS, Dannie has been privileged to work and play with
such notable musicians as Trummy Young, Dick Cary,
Bob Havens, Abe Most, Howard Alden, Eddie Erickson,
Johnny Varro, Rusty Stiers, Dan Barrett, Terrie Richards,
Eddie Metz Jr., Bill Dendle, Shelley Burns and many
other excellent musicians.
For 8 years, Dannie also played lead
trumpet with Stockton's Delta Night Big Band backing
guest artists such as Art Farmer, Jon Faddis, Plas
Johnson, and Bill
Watrous. Dannie also works as a music educator for Stockton
U.S.D.
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