Dan Whieldon (jazz piano)
Dan Whieldon is a Jazz Pianist from Burton-on-Trent, currently based near Manchester, UK. He studied classical piano at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Gordon Fergus-Thompson and won various prizes and competitions there. He gained a first class grade in his final recital and graduated in 2002.
Whilst studying at the Conservatoire, Dan became interested in jazz piano and took a few lessons whilst playing gigs with as many different jazz musicians as possible.
He decided to study jazz formally, and in 2003 went to Belgium, to study in the Royal Conservatoire, Brussels with pianists Diederik Wissels and Nathalie Loriers. He graduated with a Masters in Jazz with distinction, and managed to play in all of the major jazz clubs in Brussels. He has also taken private lessons with Rob van Bavel and Enrico Pieranunzi.
In 2004 he moved to Manchester, where he now plays with several musicians and ensembles on the jazz scene. In 2007 his trio released its first CD, “Live at Zeffirelli’s” which received positive reviews from the jazz press, and was played on BBC Radio 2. In 2009 he recorded a CD in duo with saxophonist Mike Hall including compositions by both musicians. He often works in duo and quartet with jazz singer Alice Zawadzki with whom he performed at the 2010 Taipei International Jazz Festival in Taiwan and Manchester Jazz festival 2012. They are currently recording their first CD together.
Some of his compositions have been featured in the ‘North West Real Book’ and on the accompanying CD.
Dan has played at all of the jazz venues around the North West, and jazz festivals including Manchester, Glasgow, and Southport. As a “sideman” he has recently accompanied Alan Barnes, Bobby Wellins, Art Themen, Tim Garland, Simon Spillett, Steve Waterman, Jiggs Whigham, Sarah Ellen- Hughes, Marlene Verplanck, Tina May and Lee Gibson for their visits to the North West.
In July 2008, Dan was the winner of the Nottingham National Jazz Piano Competition, where his prizes were a brand new Bluthner piano, a recording session and some concerts including the 606 and Vortex clubs in London.
Dan is a visiting teacher of jazz piano and ensemble at Ampleforth College, Stockport Grammar School, The King’s School, Macclesfield, and the University of York.
He was recently awarded an Honorary Membership of Birmingham Conservatoire.
