Associate Professor Per Danielsson

Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, writer and educator, Per Danielsson is a native of Stockholm, Sweden. Growing up with a jazz guitar-playing father, Per was exposed to the sounds of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans at an early age. After formal piano studies in Sweden, which included lessons with Robert Malmberg and world-renowned jazz pianist Bengt Hallberg, his love of jazz brought him across the ocean to attend the internationally acclaimed North Texas State University. Per is an active performer, appearing often as a guest artist, soloist, clinician, and sideman. His career has included performances with many leading jazz artists and entertainers such as Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Shew, Maureen McGovern to mention a few. As the pianist for Chuck Owen’s innovative and Grammy Nominated big band, The Jazz Surge, Per has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Gerald Wilson, Neena Freelon, Karrin Allyson, Bob Brookmeyer, Ingrid Jensen, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker and Danny Gottlieb.   He has also performed with Swedish jazz legends Arne Domnerus, Jan Allan and Georg Reidel.

 His most current CD release is his trio recording “Time Will Tell,” featuring Richard Drexler and Marty Morell. He can be heard on Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge’s latest CD “Whispers on the Wind” which received four Grammy nominations. Per has been a member of this group since 2001 and appear on the following recordings: “A Comet’s Tail: Performing the compositions of Michael Brecker,” - “River Runs,” and Whispers on the Wind. Per is pianist and producer for “Dear Old Stockholm” and “Artwork”, both Swedish-American collaborations featuring saxophonist Jack Wilkins and revered Swedish trumpeter Jan Allan. And as pianist in the UCF Jazz Professors, Per has performed on the top charting CDs “The Jazz Professors Live” “Do That Again” and “En Plein Air”.

 Per completed his Master's degree in jazz studies, composition and arranging, studying with one of the finest jazz writer/arrangers of today, Chuck Owen at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He now holds the position of Associate Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Per also shares his knowledge in current publications by Mel Bay including, Essential Jazz Lines in the style of Bill Evans, Essential Jazz Lines in the style of Miles Davis. First Lesson – Piano, You can Teach Yourself Jazz Chords, Real Book DVD and others.

 In addition, Per is active in jazz education outreach. He is currently artistic director of the American Jazz Pianist Competition. In 2016’s competition, Per held the position of competition judge, along with Kenny Barron. He has served on the Presidential advisory board of the Jazz Education Network.   

Per is proud to be a Yamaha/Bosendorfer Artist.