There’s an instagram reel of today’s guest playing at Smalls. The description, next to a video of a blistering solo, says “I used to have to be drunk to play at Smalls.”
That single sentence encapsulates almost everything he wants you to know about his story.
First, that now he’s by-all-measures a prodigious jazz drum talent.
Second, that a surprisingly short time ago he had crippling performance anxiety.
Third, that that anxiety led to alcoholism at a young age.
Fourth, that he’s now sober, and has poured all that anxiety into making himself the player and social media star he is.
Danny brings up his journey to sobriety in the first sentence of his interview. And, in person, he was not what I expected from his social media.
On Instagram, Danny presents as a macho “gym bro”, obsessed with 400 bpm ride cymbal, even if many of his videos are satirical and self-referential. I was fully expecting a Friday Night Lights character.
In person, he’s warm, humble, self-deprecating, and unironically excited to talk about music. And talk we did. Whether about overcoming social anxiety, the minutiae of practice routines, the role of the left hand, great jazz drummers we both admire, at what stage players should get on social media, or how music is subjective except somehow Tony Williams, we got into it.
I’ve often thought about building a musical career in modern times as at least 3 axes: musical ability, virality, and integrity, with the last 2 seemingly slightly in conflict, and the first somewhat allowing for the third. (Trust me, I’m making a video on this.)
In a world in which people sing jazz solos while bouncing on a pogo stick, dress up as medieval monsters, or actually become “what my friends think a jazz drummer is” for follows, Danny’s charted a high-integrity course: showing what a “real” modern jazz drummer can be, with some whimsey, humor, and wit, and always putting the music first.
If you’ve ever struggled with performance anxiety or motivation, or just wanted to see “behind the curtain” of one of the most fascinating young jazz drummers, you’ll enjoy this interview.
See you soon!
P.S. did you know you can sign up to be the first to hear when we open up new slots for Impossible to Fail, my flagship 1:1 coaching program? Just click here to sign up for the waitlist.