ABOUT CHICAGO BASED PIANIST/KEYBOARDIST DANIEL TABION

Daniel strives to be a dynamic, swinging yet sensitive accompanist who always plays from the heart. 

At a young age, Daniel identified with the sounds of Chicago blues pianists Pinetop Perkins, Otis Spann as well as New Orleans pianists James Booker, Profressor Longhair, and Harry Connick, Jr.  Later he was captivated by the undeniable swinging drive and sophisticated harmonies of jazz pianists including Oscar Peterson, Benny Green, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, and Marion McPartland.  

 

After earning a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University, Daniel began taking music gigs while holding down a software job in the Chicago area.  After several years, he was able to be engaged in music as a full time career.  

 

He is a stunningly versatile pianist/keyboardist having performed with countless groups and in styles ranging from jazz, R&B, soul, funk, blues, latin, reggae, gospel, rock, and pop.  He spent much of 2008 touring Canada with R&B/Soul/Blues artist Sam Cockrell.  From 2009 through 2011, he was the house pianist and music director at St. Andrew's Inn regularly backing up jazz vocalists Rebecca Sullivan, Stacy Rene, Dalphine as well as a host of other visiting vocalists.  He was part of Saalik Ziyad's "Z-Quartet" working on Celebrity Cruiselines in 2013 and 2014.  In 2015 he spent 6 months playing with the Blue Velvet Band for the same cruiseline.

 

Daniel has had the fortune of performing for appreciative audiences in some amazing and historic venues.  In Chicago, he has played at the historic Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill, Andy's, Buddy Guy's Legends, the Kingston Mines, Blues on Halsted, Rosa's Lounge, the Chicago Cultural Center, Katerina's, the Green Dolphin...

 

 

CURRENT PROJECTS
 -The Sam Cockrell Band (R&B/Soul/Funk/Blues)     
 -Paris La Nuit (French/World Jazz)                           
 -Myles Hayes (Jazz Vocalist)

 -Andrew Diehl & The Nightmen (Chicago Blues, Roots, & Rock n' Roll)

 -The Alvarez Brothers' "Sabor Latino"

 -Meghan McKown (Vocal Jazz and Neo-Soul)

 -Bonnie Watts (Vocal Jazz)

 -Gerald Mar Duo (R&B, Latin, Funk, Pop, Jazz)  

 -Tropical Experience (Reggae, Calypso, Soca)

 -New Beginnings North Shore Church (Gospel)       



PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

-Performance with John Primer at Blues Festival in North Liberty, IN
-Touring Canada with Sam Cockrell performing dozens of venues including a week at the historic Blues on Whyte in Edmonton, AB.
-Pickle's Blues Festival in Lima, OH with Sam Cockrell
-Ray Charles Tribute Performances in the Quad Cities with Ray Blue.
-Performances with Kjazz and Ebony Brown for events hosted by Steadman Graham with luminaries in attendance including Oprah
Winfrey, Art Norman and various pro sports figures.
-Lincoln Square Chriskindl Market with Brent Kimbrough & Company.
-Chicago Cultural Center performance with Shilpa Bavikatte for artist showcase "From Lahore to Chicago"
-Chicago Cultural Center performance with Stacy McMichael's Gypsyteque project.
-Performance with Maya Jensen at the Jazz Showcase

RECORDINGS
"In the Last Minute" - 2010
The Alejandro Fernández Project

"Sounds So Thick" - 2010
The Hudson Landing