PRESS QUOTES

"It's a great week for jazz in the East Bay. Specifically, it's a great week for jazz piano, with San Francisco pianist Dan Zemelman celebrating his debut album, One Way or Another, this Tuesday at Oakland Yoshi's. Trained in classical and jazz, Zemelman ultimately parlayed his musical chops into a foreign diplomacy project called the Jazz Ambassadors, which dispatched him to India and Sri Lanka in 1998.  Since then he's performed in various trio and quartet configurations, arranged music for Ragged Wing Theater Ensemble, and appeared on the John Lee Hooker album Face to Face.  Versatility is an important quality for any professional musician, but Zemelman is also moored in the jazz tradition."

Rachel Swan, East Bay Express, on the Dan Z Quartet's 2010 Yoshi's show

"While Zemelman possesses a lovely touch and fertile harmonic imagination, what stands out most on One Way Or Another is the probing lyricism that undergirds his group concept.  He gives his formidable collaborators plenty of space, but the improvisation is always tightly bound to the melodic line.  The resulting music is playful, tender, celebratory and consistently engaging, a rare project that compels a second, third and fourth spin."

Andy Gilbert, SF/bay area jazz critic, on Dan Z's debut CD One Way or Another

"The Dan Zemelman Quartet brings some serious jazz chops, and a bandleader who really knows his way around the 88s.  Expect satisfyingly complicated bebop, tough yet silky."

Hiya Swanhuyser, SF Weekly, on Dan Z Quartet's 2009 performanceat Yoshi’s – Oakland

"Zemelman is, after all, an intimidatingly good pianist. He uses choice voicings, he obviously listens carefully to his other band members, and he writes some interesting song heads....He uses cool modern harmonies and emphasizes the dark edges of each chord. His tunes propel themselves forward with driving rhythms, but in his solos Zemelman often moves in and out of time.....The material here doesn't have the same intentionally difficult or earth-shatteringly experimental qualities that you sometimes hear in contemporary jazz, but it's really well put together."

Rachel Swan, East Bay Express, on Dan Z's debut CD One Way or Another

"Dan Zemelman was an important part to the strong structure of the swinging rhythm that was presented to the students with the Tamburr Quintet clinic. Along with bassist Doug Miller and drummer Greg Wyser, Dan and the rhythm had one of the hardest swingin and boppin rhythm sections around!"

Sacramento Talent Magazine, on Dan's performance/clinic with Christian Tamburr at the Brubeck Institute

"Zemelman’s music is both intricate and soulful.  The band weaves melody and improvisation skillfully while employing almost telepathic abilities amongst its members."

Darren Lewinsky, SF Chronicle, on the Dan Zemelman Quartet