Dan Balmer Trio

Dan's music is artistic enough for the concert stage, but doesn't mind being in the background if that's what the gig requires. From subtle solo jazz guitar mastery, to quiet contemplative duets, to smoking trios and quartets Dan understands and delivers what the client wants. Dan has played in over 20 countries and his music has been on TV and in the movies and even featurewd in a Ballet!

From coffee shop gigs at 15 to chart topping success with the Tom Grant Band in the 90’s, world tours with two time Grammy Winner Diane Schurr from (phone number hidden)0, the 2022 European tour with Pink Martini, to shredding with contemporary Jam Bands, Dan Balmer brings heart and fire every time he plays.
As an in demand guitarist and educator Dan has toured with Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Les McCann and Javon Jackson among others while still remaining the first call for many Northwest Portland bands from straight ahead jazz to the avante garde. Until Covid hit in 2019 Dan averaged playing 200 gigs a year for the past 40 years.
Dan has appeared on over 100 CDs including 13 as a leader or co leader where he has presented his unique compositional vision combining disparate musical genres into a meaningful emotional whole.
Dan has been an adjudicator at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, The Reno Jazz Festiival and others. He has given clinics and lectures at USC, the University of Central Florida, the University of Oregon and been a faculty member of The Centrum Jazz Festival in Port Townsend for the last twenty years, as well as being a Faculty member at the EMU Jazz Festival in Buenos Aires.
Dan’s love of guitar and making music combined with discipline, technique, and endless curiosity provide an ever deepening experience for himself and his listeners. In every performance he finds himself in “the middle of the path”, amidst a continuous and compelling process of discovery.

All we need is a regular outlet and a covered place to play. We are experts at helping you decide where we should set up and always arrive early enough so there is no stress or hassle.