Daniel Hicks - Pianist for all Occasions
Overview
Add joy, sophistication, and ambiance to your event with a live piano player. Daniel Hicks is a versatile pianist active professionally since 2018. An in-demand sideman, he has worked with acclaimed musicians such Rob Dixon, Goldie Ingram, Wendy Reed, Brenda Williams, and Sandy Lomax. Daniel performed at Indy Jazz Fest 2023 with the Indianapolis Legacy Band, and opened for Branford Marsalis in January 2024. Daniel trained with award winning jazz pianist Joshua Espinoza while at Franklin College in Indiana.
Jazz, Pop, Funk, R&B, Gospel, and Hymns are all among his repertoire and influence. His original music is inspired by and invokes the hard working, blue collar attitudes of the midwest.
Reviews
19 reviews
Sanjiv S.
October 2, 2025Exactly what we wanted!
We invited Daniel to perform at an event we hosted to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. He started playing around 6:00 pm (during cocktail hour) and continued until dinner. After some speeches, he returned to play until the event concluded late in the evening.
From the outset, Daniel communicated exceptionally well with us. He provided us with a list of jazz standards and pop songs for us to review, ensuring that the music aligned with our desired ambiance. He arrived punctually, an hour before the event, and set up with a high-quality PA system suitable for a medium-sized ballroom. Notably, he allowed us to use his PA system for the speeches and toasts, eliminating the need to rent equipment from the event venue.
Our guests thoroughly enjoyed his performance. His playing provided the perfect blend of festivity and elegance, creating the ideal backdrop for the event we had envisioned. Daniel is not only an exceptional pianist but also a delightful collaborator.
Hired as: Pianist
Erica M.
March 23, 20255 Stars!!! Great Music and Wonderful To Work With!
We truly appreciate you and your band adding a special touch to our event last spring and are hoping to work with you again soon. Our guests RAVED about your music and enjoyed dancing too. We have had attendees asking us if you will be back again....we sure hope so! We really enjoyed working with you and appreciate how thorough you were in the planning process too. We will highly recommend you to everyone we meet! Thanks again for helping to make our fundraiser event a success!
Hired as: 1920s Era Entertainment, Jazz Band
Matthew J.
July 22, 202410/10 Exceeded all expectations
Daniel is by far the best pianist i've ever heard . He exceeded all of my expectations that I had. I'll absolutely be booking him again
Hired as: Keyboard Player
Daniel Hicks - Pianist for all Occasions
Thank you much, Matt. I appreciated your professionalism, transparency and communication! Your kindness and generosity in this lifetime will not go unrewarded.
Best,
Daniel Hicks
Claire P.
June 1, 2026Greatly appreciated
Much appreciated for the help of the accompaniment. The experience worked out. I would recommend Daniel.
Hired as: Pianist
Brianna B.
February 16, 2026Outstanding Performance!
We recently hosted our annual Valentine's Day Dinner where we typically host jazz music. Daniel Hicks Trio was phenomenal. Our guests raved about their talent and the music they played--many were shocked by how many songs they recognized. They provided the perfect music for our romantic Valentine's Day dinner for over 100 couples and other groups. We highly recommend them for your next event!
Hired as: Easy Listening Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Pianist, Pianist
Booking information
Price range: $150 - 300 per event
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Performer's Insurance
About
Add joy, sophistication, and ambiance to your event with a live piano player or jazz combo and make it an evening that your guests will never forget!
Daniel Hicks is a versatile pianist, composer, and producer originally from Indianapolis with 7+ years of professional experience. An in-demand sideman, Daniel has had the opportunity to work with legendary musicians such as Rob Dixon (Mike Clark, Charlie Hunter), Tony Cheeseborough (The Ohio Players), Goldie Ingram, Wendy Reed, Brenda Williams, and Sandy Lomax. In September 2023, he performed at Indy Jazz fest 2023 with singer Goldie Ingram and the headlining Indy Jazz Fest Legacy Band (featuring an all star cast of Steve Allee, Derrick Gardner, Rob Dixon, Jonathan Wood, and Richard Sleepy Floyd).
Daniel is 1/3 of the Trio, the “Northside Exchange'' with Joseph Filipow (Guitar) and Darnell Perkins (Drums). The Northside Exchange co-headlined the Inaugural Carmel Indiana Jazz Fest in 2023, and has also been featured on Fox 59 News’ “Indy Now” television program. The Northside Exchange opened for the renowned Branford Marsalis Quartet during Branford's winter tour, at the Palladium Center for the Performing Arts in January 2024 to critical acclaim as covered by Mark Sheldon in NUVO magazine: "an excellent choice by The Center in representing the depth of amazing jazz talent in Indy" ... "to the audible delight of the crowd".
Daniel trained with award winning pianists Joshua Espinoza and Clare Longendyke while attending Franklin College. While in school he also sung in choir and arranged music. Jazz, Classical, Pop, Funk, R&B, Gospel, and Hymns are all among Daniel's repertoire and influence. His original music and creative arrangements of timeless classics invoke the hardworking spirit of the Midwest. Daniel relocated to Jackson, MI during 2023.
Upcoming booked events
August 2026
08
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
2:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Hillsdale, MI
September 2026
12
Saturday
Cocktail Party
5:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Manitou Beach, MI
October 2026
10
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Bremen, IN
Past booked events
May 2026
31
Sunday
Concert
11:30pm - 1:00am (Mon)
•
Dearborn, MI
February 2026
14
Saturday
Dinner Party
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Franklin, IN
07
Saturday
Anniversary Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Flat Rock, MI
December 2025
28
Sunday
Wedding Reception
3:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Monroe, MI
07
Sunday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Chelsea, MI
October 2025
04
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Fennville, MI
September 2025
27
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Novi, MI
10
Wednesday
Prom/After Prom Party
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Lansing, MI
04
Thursday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Fort Wayne, IN
August 2025
17
Sunday
Cocktail Party
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Elkhart, IN
15
Friday
Surprise
7:00pm - 12:00am (Sat)
•
Grosse Pointe, MI
02
Saturday
Wedding Reception
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Farmington Hills, MI
May 2025
31
Saturday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Hickory Corners, MI
25
Sunday
Wedding Ceremony
1:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Goodells, MI
09
Friday
Personal Occasion
3:00pm - 3:45pm
•
Angola, IN
March 2025
22
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Ann Arbor, MI
February 2025
14
Friday
Cocktail Party
8:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Fremont, OH
January 2025
25
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Northville, MI
October 2024
12
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Grand Rapids, MI
July 2024
21
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
5:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Detroit, MI
09
Tuesday
Restaurant/Bar Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Gowen, MI
June 2024
09
Sunday
Worship Service
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Ann Arbor, MI
April 2024
13
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
5:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Clarkston, MI
February 2024
14
Wednesday
Restaurant/Bar Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Montpelier, OH
October 2023
14
Saturday
Restaurant/Bar Event
1:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Lake Odessa, MI
May 2023
17
Wednesday
Grand Opening
4:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Indianapolis, IN
Set list
I have a very large repertoire and am happy to take requests as well. Here are some examples of tunes I commonly play at events broken out between Pop/Contemporary and Jazz:
Pop/Contemporary:
A Thousand Miles, Vanessa Carlton
A Thousand Years, Chrsitna Perri
After the Love Is Gone, Earth Wind & Fire
And I Love Her, The Beatles
Best Part, Daniel Caesar
Breezin', George Benson
Cantaloupe Island, Herbie Hancock
Chameleon, Herbie Hancock
Cissy Strut, The Meters
Close to You, The Carpenters
Don't Know Why, Norah Jones
Feel Like Makin' Love, Roberta Flack
Frontin', Pharrell
Here, There and Everywhere, The Beatles
How Deep Is Your Love, Bee Gees
Human Nature, Michael Jackson
I Wish, Stevie Wonder
I Want it That Way, Backstreet Boys
If I Ain't Got You, Alicia Keys
In My Life, The Beatles
Isn't She Lovely, Stevie Wonder
Jambalaya (On the Bayou), Hank Williams
Just the Two of Us, Grover Washington Jr
Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
Killing Me Softly with His Song, Roberta Flack
Last Night, Morgan Wallen
Let's Stay Together, Al Green
Love's in Need of Love Today, Stevie Wonder
Lovely Day, Bill Withers
Maputo, David Sanborn
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Joe Zawinul
Mr. Magic, Grover Washington Jr
Never Can Say Goodbye, The Jackson 5
One Hundred Ways, Quincy Jones
Purple Rain, Prince
Rain, SWV
Red Baron, Billy Cobham
Sir Duke, Stevie Wonder
Sunny, Bobby Hebb
Valerie, Amy Winehouse
What the World Needs Now, Burt Bacharach
What You Won't Do for Love, Bobby Caldwell
Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
Yesterday, The Beatles
You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder
Jazz:
After You've Gone, Turner Layton
Afternoon in Paris, John Lewis
All About My Girl, Jimmy McGriff
All Blues, Miles Davis
All the Things You Are, Jerome Kern
Alone Together, Arthur Schwartz
Anything Goes, Cole Porter
Autumn Leaves, Joseph Kosma
Billie's Bounce, Charlie Parker
Black Nile, Wayne Shorter
Blue Bossa, Joe Henderson
Blue Monk, Thelonious Monk
Body and Soul, Johnny Green
Buster Rides Again, Bud Powell
Bye Bye Blackbird, Ray Henderson
Caravan, Duke Ellington
Cherokee, Ray Noble
Corcovado (Quiet Nights...), Antonio Carlos Jobim
Days of Wine and Roses, Henry Mancini
Embraceable You, George Gershwin
Fly Me to the Moon, Bart Howard
Footprints, Wayne Shorter
Four, Miles Davis
From the Start, Laufey
Georgia on My Mind, Hoagy Carmichael
Girl from Ipanema, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Have You Met Miss Jones, Richard Rodgers
I Can't Give You Anything..., Jimmy McHugh
In a Sentimental Mood, Duke Ellington
Indiana (Back Home Again...), James F. Hanley
Isn't It Romantic, Richard Rodgers
It Could Happen to You, Jimmy Van Heusen
Like Someone in Love, Jimmy Van Heusen
My Favorite Things, Richard Rodgers
On Green Dolphin Street, Bronisław Kaper
On the Sunny Side of the Street, Jimmy McHugh
Pennies from Heaven, Arthur Johnston
Pure Imagination, Leslie Bricusse
Recorda Me, Joe Henderson
Satin Doll, Duke Ellington
September in the Rain, Harry Warren
Skylark, Hoagy Carmichael
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Sigmund Romberg
Solar, Miles Davis
Someday My Prince Will Come, Frank Churchill
Someone to Watch Over Me, George Gershwin
St. Thomas, Sonny Rollins
Stablemates, Benny Golson
Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael
Stella by Starlight, Victor Young
Stormy Weather, Harold Arlen
Summertime, George Gershwin
The Nearness of You, Hoagy Carmichael
There Is No Greater Love, Isham Jones
There Will Never Be Another You, Harry Warren
Up Jumped Spring, Freddie Hubbard
When You Wish Upon a Star, Leigh Harline
Yesterdays , Jerome Kern
You Make Me Feel So Young , Josef Myrow