Danny Keane

The Cellist and Jazz Pianist Danny Keane studied at Trinity College of Music where he graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree and won the TCM Trust Silver Medal for String Studies. Danny has performed in master-classes with Robert Cohen and William Pleeth, and appeared as soloist performing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, Elgar Cello Concerto, Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto, and Concerti by Vivaldi. Much in demand as a chamber musician Danny has played at music festivals throughout the country as cellist with the Guillami Quartet who, having just recorded their debut CD, were quartet in residence at Ludlow Festival for four years and have recently given a cycle of Beethoven string quartets at the Purcell Room, South Bank. He has also appeared as guest cellist with the Kerem Quartet.

In London he has worked with chamber orchestras such as London Strings, The Belmont Ensemble, New Professionals Orchestra, Concillium Chamber Orchestra and the Pheonix Ensemble. He also works as a session musician for Universal Records and for numerous film/TV sound tracks including the short film 'EMR' which won 'Best Film' in the 2004 London Raindance Film Festival.

As a baroque cellist he has performed for the Classical Music Company lectures at Cambridge university and the Purcell Room, and has recorded with the tenor Phillip Salmon and harpsichordist Peter Medhurst.

As a Jazz pianist he regularly performs on the London Jazz scene with his own trio and duo as well as frequently performing and recording with artists such as saxophonist Ian Ritchie, bassists Tom Fry, Herbie Flowers, Ben Bastin, Nick Kacal, drummers Brian Hedemann, Julian Saul, and singers Tina May, Lynley Weir, Cousin Alice.

Danny is also a keen composer and has written numerous works for various instruments including String Quartets and Orchestral works and over Christmas of 2005 he wrote and recorded his first Jazz album with his trio.

He has also bridged the Rock/Pop/Folk world and has appeared as cellist for Mariah Carey and in November of 2005 was invited to play with the Gorillaz for the performances of their most recent album 'Demon Days' in the Manchester International Festival and at The Brit Awards 2006. Since July of the same year Danny has been playing piano for EMI artist Tom Baxter and whose 2nd Album 'Skybound' has reached double-platinum status in Ireland. Theatre work includes the solo cello soundtrack for the Borealis Theatre Company's production of August Strindberg's 'The Father' at the Courtyard Theatre, Covent Garden. Danny can been seen on The Good The Bad and The Queen 'Live from Abbey Road' and appeared on 'Later' with Jools Holland accompanying San Remo/Island Records artist Scott Matthews who, as a result, invited Danny to join his band as cellist and string arranger. They then went on to record a disc with producer John Leckie (Radiohead) of 5 tracks from Scott's debut album 'Passing Stranger' with string quartet arrangements written by Danny which was released as a bonus disc. Since then Scott and Danny were invited to support Rufus Wainwright on his UK tour and were personally invited to support Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their 2008 European tour which climaxed at Wembley Arena. Scott and his Band were also asked to play the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury 2007 which was televised on BBC and Danny returned to Glastonbury in 2008 with Tom Baxter. In April 2008 Danny orchestrated 3 of Tom Baxter's songs for the BBC Concert Orchestra which was performed live with the band on BBC Radio 2's 'Friday Night Is Music Night'. Other TV appearances include BBC Radio 2 Music Club at the O2, GMTV, Richard and Judy, The Late Late Shoe (RTE), Tubridy Tonight (RTE), This Morning, Jo Wiley sessions (VH1) all with Tom Baxter. More recently, Danny made his debut at The Royal Opera House playing on Damon Albarn's Opera 'Monkey - Journey to the West'. Watch this space for live gigs!!



Scott Matthews 'Fractured'



.with the Noisettes live on Jools Holland.