Danielle Wertz

Described as, "untarnished by the politics of music" (Jazz Music Archives) and "at home alongside more contemporary exponents of improvising singing" (LoudMouth, AU) 2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition semi-finalist and 2017 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition runner-up, Danielle Wertz, has rapidly gained national acclaim.

In 2017 Danielle independently released her debut album, Intertwined. This collaboration with Israeli pianist, Tal Cohen, was recorded at ABC Studios in Sydney, Australia, and features renowned tenor saxophonist, Jamie Oehlers. Intertwined was ranked #4 on Capital Bop's list of "Best DC Jazz Albums of 2017" and has continued to receive high praise since its release. Since relocating to California, Danielle has quickly gained recognition as one of the Bay Area’s most in-demand jazz vocalists. Pre-Covid19, Danielle regularly performed at several venues in the SF Bay Area including Piedmont Piano Company, Mr. Tipples Recording Studio, the Black Cat and Café Stritch. She made her SF Jazz debut with the Nora Stanley Quintet in February 2020. Being a DC-area native, she has both headlined and supported local musicians at Blues Alley, The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Mr. Henry’s, Twins Jazz, Sotto, The DC Jazz Festival, The Mansion at Strathmore, HR-57 Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues, The Carlyle Club, The Creative Cauldron and Bethesda Blues and Jazz. She released her debut album to a sold-out room at The Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, co-led a concert with Lena Seikaly celebrating women in jazz at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in conjunction with the “Harlem Heroes” exhibit in 2017, and was featured on another Smithsonian concert performing “Rare and Never Recorded Works of Tadd Dameron.” Danielle has performed in several established national and international venues including The Arsht Center (FL), The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (DC), Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club (CO), The Jazz Station (OR), and the St. Petersburg Jazz Philharmonic Hall (Russia). She has also had the privilege of performing with many renowned musicians in a professional, non-academic setting including Kate McGarry, Cyrille Aimée, Jeff Denson, Keith Ganz, Shelly Berg, Chris Botti, Michael Bowie, Mark G. Meadows and Chris Grasso.

Awards

-2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition Semi-Finalist -2017 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition runner-up -2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Vocal Competition 3rd place -2012 Inaugural Winner, Washington Women in Jazz Young Artist Competition

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