Danny Gottlieb is one of the most popular drummers in jazz and contemporary music. Although best known as the drummer in the original Pat Metheny Group, during the past 30 years Danny has performed and recorded with some of the world's greatest musicians. They include: Bobby McFerrin, Sting, John McLaughlin, Gil Evans, Gary Burton, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Al Di Meola, The Blues Brothers Band, Booker T and the MGs, Jeff Berlin, Lew Soloff, Michael Franks, Mark Egan, Mike Stern, Dr. John, the NDR Big Band, WDR Big Band, HR Big Band, GRP Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, and many more. He is featured on more than 300 CDs to date, including four Grammy Award Winners.
In addition to his career as a performing and recording artist, Danny is also an accomplished educator and author. He is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. He recently released an acclaimed drum set textbook, The Evolution of Jazz Drumming (Hudson/Hal Leonard), and has also released 10 educational drum DVDs, (including three with long time teacher, the legendary Joe Morello (Natural Drumming, Vol 1-3, Mel Bay) and co-authored two texts with Michael Green (The Drummer’s Workbook for Control and Creativity, In the Style of the Modern Jazz Masters, Mel Bay).
Since 2004, Danny and his wife, percussionist Beth Gottlieb, have been members of actor/bassist Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band. The 13-piece band performs 30-40 concerts per year around the world, 75% of which are benefit concerts for the USO and the US Military. They have performed in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Walter Reed Hospital, The Pentagon, 29 Palms, Luke AFB, Camp Pendleton, and the Great Lakes Naval base.
Danny has been featured on the cover of Modern Drummer, DownBeat, Drums and Percussion, Rhythm, and Drum Scene Magazines. He icurrently authors a monthly article about jazz drumming for DRUM! magazine.
Danny currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
