Harold Danko (born June 13, 1947 in Ohio) is an American jazz pianist.
Danko attended Youngstown State University. Among his credits are work in the big bands of Woody Herman and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, as well as smaller ensembles with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Lee Konitz. He worked often with Rich Perry in the 1990s and also played with Rufus Reid, Kirk Lightsey, Jeff Hirshfield, Edward Simon, and Gregory Herbert.
In 1999, Danko released a solo piano tribute album to Chet Baker titled This Isn't Maybe.
Danko was also the teacher at the Manhattan School of Music, of Grammy Award Winner Luis Perdomo (pianist).
Discography As leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1974Harold Danko QuartetInner CityQuartet, with Gregory Herbert (tenor sax), Dave Shapiro (bass), Jimmy Madison (drums)1979CoincidenceDreamstreetQuintet, with Frank Tiberi (tenor sax/bassoon), Tom Harrell (trumpet/flugelhorn), Rufus Reid (bass), Joe LaBarbera (drums)1979?Chasin' the Bad GuysInner City1982?Mirth SongSunnyside1983Shorter by TwoSunnysideDuo, with Kirk Lightsey1983Ink and WaterSunnyside1985?Alone but Not ForgottenSunnyside1988?The First Love SongJazz City1993Next AgeSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1994After the RainSteepleChaseSolo piano1995New AutumnSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1995–96Tidal BreezeSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1996The Feeling of JazzSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1997Stable MatesSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1997Three of FourSteepleChaseTrio, with Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)1998...This Isn't MaybeSteepleChaseSolo piano2000NightscapesSteepleChaseQuartet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Scott Colley (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2001Prestigious: A Tribute to Eric DolphySteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dave Ballou (trumpet), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2002Fantasy ExitSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2003Trilix SteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2004HinesightSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2005Oatts & PerrySteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2006Times RememberedSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2007?WonderlandSteepleChaseDuo, with Ron McClure (bass)2008?EscapadesSteepleChaseTrio, with Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2009?Oatts & Perry IISteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2011?UnrichedSteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2012?Oatts & Perry IIISteepleChaseQuintet, with Rich Perry (tenor sax), Dick Oatts (alto sax), Michael Formanek (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2014？Sweet NowhereSteepleChaseDuo, with Dick Oatts (alto sax)2015?Lost in the BreezeSteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2016Triple PlaySteepleChaseTrio, with Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Hirshfield (drums)2019Play DateSteepleChase2021Spring GardenSteepleChase2022Rite NotesSteepleChase
Main source:
As sideman With Chet Baker Once Upon a Summertime (Artists House, 1977 ) As Time Goes By (Timeless, 1986) Cool Cat (Timeless, 1986 ) Chet Baker in Tokyo (King Records, 1988) With Thad Jones and Mel Lewis The Thad Jones Mel Lewis Quartet (Artists House, 1978) With Lee Konitz Yes, Yes, Nonet (SteepleChase, 1979) Dovetail (Sunnyside, 1983) Ideal Scene (Soul Note, 1986) The New York Album (Soul Note, 1988) Once Upon a Line (Musidisc, 1990) Dearly Beloved (SteepleChase, 1996) RichLee! (SteepleChase, 1997) with Rich Perry
With Artt Frank & Pat Morrissey Souvenir (mja Records, 1999)
References