Dr. Dan Matrazzo is a Jazz, Jam, Rock, Blues, Space Funk and World Music American keyboardist and pianist. He was also a member and composer for legendary Grammy winning blues artist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. Dr Dan started playing the piano at the age of three in 1962 and performed classical recitals while growing up in Tokyo. His uncle was a well known big band leader and bassist for Japanese TV networks. His album "Timeless," which he recorded with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was nominated for a Grammy Award. Matrazzo's piano music can also be found on Brown's album "Real Life." Matrazzo was the founder, composer and producer for the band Fiji Mariners which is currently on Sony records. Dr. Dan has also played shows and/or tours with James Cotton and Taj Mahal, and has appeared on stage with Russell Malone, Lew Soloff, Phish, Blues Traveller, John Scofield, Michael Brecker, Les Claypool, Gov’t Mule, Ween, Lowell Fulson, George Porter Jr., Stanton Moore, Morphine, The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and others. Dan's professional journey began in 1975 as a teenager playing at sold-out arenas with Japanese guitarist Char. In 1981 Dr. Dan recorded on the albumCloudland/Pink Cloud on VAP Records with Nobuki Yoshinaga, Masayoshi Kabe, Hisato "Char" Takenaka. From there he went on touring the US, Europe, Asia and the Mid-east with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and numerous other musical outfits, including several appearances at all major European Jazz festivals. In the 1980s and 1990s when Dan was not touring he would work with the Atlanta-based group Life Force as a Jazz educator and concerts including the 1994 Lillehammer Winter OlympicsNorthsea Jazz Festival. In 1992 to 1994, Dr. Dan and Char reunited with the band, the Psychedelix, and toured extensively in Japan, also, concerts in Los Angeles and New York City. Together they released an album "Live At NHK Hall" and other DVDs and performed on March 20 at the SHIBUYA Public Hall TOKYO. In 1996 to 1995 Matrazzo performed with Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, recording the tracks for his album "Rendezvous With The Blues" on Hammond B3. He also recorded on Gregg Allman's album on Chrysalis Records in 1996. His 2000 solo release "Dan on the Moon," produced by David Z, was released by Terminus Records with Sam Sims on bass, Lil’ John Roberts on drums, and Warren Haynes on guitar. "Dan on the Moon" was considered by many to be the defining album of a new genre which jam fans immediately dubbed "Space Funk," though it explored many styles of music from funk and blues, soul, prog rock, and even classical piano. From 2005 to 2011, Dr. Dan focused mainly on traditional and post-bebop jazz music, but then began touring with The Looters, who are also known for backing Blue Note Records' Kristina Train, Rosa King, and Saskia Laroo. In 2015 DR. Dan and The Looters released an album on Home Grown Records. In 2013 Matrazzo reunited with John Scofield as well as Gov't Mule at the 25th annual Christmas Jam in Asheville, North Carolina. In 2015 Gov't Mule released the album "Sco-Mule" with Dr Dan Matrazzo on keys, John Scofield on guitar, and a host of other musicians including Jimmy Herring and Allen Woody which was recorded at the Georgia Theatre and the Roxy in Atlanta. This was the last recording made by bassist Allen Woody of the Allman Brothers Band. Dr. Dan's music has been used by MTV for opening songs for a TV Murder and mystery show. Later in 2017, there were sessions with Corky Laing of Mountain and Chris Barron and guitarist Eric Schenkman of the Spin Doctors.
