Daniel Gassin Trio

Daniel Gassin began playing piano at age three and a half and received individual piano lessons from the age of four. He received classical tuition (most notably from Gloria Chambers) until the age of 10. Daniel then switched to jazz piano and received regular tuition for the next 6 years, primarily from Helen Jowsey.

Since then Daniel has performed extensively with numerous ensembles including his own trio. He has performed with many top local musicians, including Andy Sugg, Alison Wedding, Cam McAlister, Christophe Genoux, Craig Simon, Tom Manne, Ren Walters, Sam Anning and Daniel Susnjar.

In 2002-2003 Daniel spent seven months in Paris where he studied with local stalwart Laurent Fickelson and performed in a number of venues such as Studio des Islettes, Haynes’ Bar, Le Baiser Salé and le Franc Pinot. The European experience had a significant impact on him musically, and this can be heard in his original compositions.

Daniel’s musical style is characterised by a strong melodic sense coupled with a solid technique. He cites Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Baptiste Trottignon along with locals Mark Fitzgibbon and Colin Hopkins as his major influences.

In 2003 Daniel was Awarded the Banyule/La Trobe University Young Artists’ Award. Funding from this award enabled him to produce his debut CD Roundtrip, which was launched in April 2004. The album has since received significant airtime on ABC Jazztrack, ABC Classic FM/drive time, 3RRR and PBS FM.

In late 2005 the Daniel Gassin Trio recorded a high-definition DVD live at the BMW Edge at Federation Square.

In 2005 and 2006 Daniel’s trio completed tours of Western Australia, culminating in performances for the Perth Jazz Society. In July 2006 and 2007 Daniel toured New Zealand with expatriate drummer Mark Lockett and saxophonist Paul van Ross, promoting their quartet album on which he played the Fender Rhodes.

In May 2007 Daniel performed with US saxophone giant Dave Liebman as part of Sugg’s group. He went on to reach the finals of the Bosendorfer World Solo Piano Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July, the only Australian to do so. Later the same year Daniel performed as part of a special project featuring Italian saxophonist Ettore Martin and expatriate bassist Leonardo Rigo, in conjunction with the Italian Cultural Centre. Playing jazz arrangements of Italian traditional songs, they performed at the BMW Edge and Bennetts Lane.

The Daniel Gassin Trio has recently recorded with Mal Stanley for ABC Jazztrack, will soon be releasing an album with the material from the session.

Album review quotes for “Roundtrip”:

“This is a cooking album – piano trio music that gets the sort of intense hum going that only the best of ‘em do.”
Ken Weir, Sunday Herald Sun

“One of the best debuts in recent years, from a brilliant, lyrical young Melbourne pianist-composer. These guys bear comparison with the best. Sizzling, beautiful stuff.”
Richard Mohr, Readings