Dan Frankowski is a thinker, novelty-seeker, trumpet player, and composer. He was raised in the Twin Cities, where his high school band (director Dennis Malmberg) and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) were early crucibles, with peers like Michael Bland (later drummer for Prince's New Power Generation) and Michael Sutton (violinist in the Minnesota Orchestra). At Oberlin College, he studied jazz playing with Donald Byrd (the trumpeter), Kenny Davis, and Jack Wilkins, and jazz composition with Wendall Logan. At the University of Minnesota, he studied jazz with Ron McCurdy, which included master classes by Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Hal Galper, Terrel Stafford, and Wynton Marsalis. He played the solo chair in the pit orchestra of the nationally acclaimed touring production of “A Harlem Nutcracker” by Donald Byrd (the choreographer), music director David Berger. Dan has played with big bands including the Nova Jazz Orchestra, Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra, John Ahern Big Band, and Cedar Avenue Big Band. He plays with Steeling Dan, a 13-piece Steely Dan tribute band and the large version of Terramara, an original pop band. He has played and recorded his compositions in 3 other groups: the Minnesota Postsecondary Jazz Sextet (postbop), the Dynamic Duo (guitar and trumpet), and anton and dan (an experimental horn duo). He lent jazz great Freddie Hubbard his trumpet to play at Qwest (no joke). He freelances with many groups, as well as stirring church favorites on Easter, which he calls “trumpeter's full employment day.”
Dan has produced or co-produced four albums:
- twin cities suite (http://cdbaby.com/mpjs) by the Minnesota Postsecondary Jazz Sextet. This is a virtuostic jazz sextet with all-original music.
- fuselage in the rumpus room (http://cdbaby.com/antonanddan) by anton and dan. Crazy jazz by two horn players. “Walk Like An Egyptian” like you've never heard it before.
- the dynamic duo (http://cdbaby.com/dynamicduo) by the dynamic duo. Trumpet and guitar. Original jazz, intimate and playful.
- thought versus emotion (http://cdbaby.com/frankhouse) by Frankhouse. Jazz for people not afraid of attitude. The sounds range from rollicking to thoughtful to soulful to experimental. Mostly original, covers of Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell. Trumpet, sax, electric guitar, bass, drums, brains.
Reviews for Thought versus Emotion
Near-pop melodies mix with a bit of funk, while fire and especially lyricism both get their due on “Thought Versus Emotion.”
Twelve Frankowski originals prove his pen has plenty of ink and many flourishes .. Plus there are interesting covers ..
-Tom Surowicz, Star Tribune
“there are only two kinds of music: good and bad.” Fortunately, Thought Versus Emotion is easily classified as the former.
Each musician provides his ounce of glow..
-Andrea Canter, Jazz Police
[B]etween their own fiery originals, they work in inventive covers of Joni Mitchell's “All I Want,” Stevie Wonder's “Higher Ground” and Kevin Washington's “Three Days.”
-Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
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