Skip to page content

Dan Nimmer

About this Artist

DAN NIMMER (piano) was born in 1982 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An old soul in a very young body, Nimmer plays with the spirit, the passion, and the soul of someone who has been on the planet much longer. Indeed, with his prodigious technique and his innate sense of swing, his playing often recalls that of his own heroes, specifically Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Erroll Garner, and Art Tatum. The classic tradition is exactly how he began: studying Western classical music, to be precise. At first, as a young man, his family inherited a piano and he started playing by ear; he was, if you will, "called" by the instrument. Soon, he was given classical lessons and studied at the famed Milwaukee Conservatory with Professor Mark Davis. At the same time, he began playing local gigs with renowned saxophonist Berkley Fudge. Upon graduation from high school, Nimmer left for Northern Illinois University to study with famed Chicago pianist Willy Pickins. He dropped out following his second year at NIU to pursue the classic jazz education - working in the clubs of Chicago nightly and expanding his contacts and repertoire. Soon, he hooked up with another local musical legend and former instructor, guitarist Fareed Haque, with whom he has been touring and recording every since. As well as performing at all major Chicago jazz venues and recently emerging into the New York scene, Nimmer has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Vienne Jazz Festival, and North Sea Jazz Festival.

10/06