Information
- Genre:
- Latin Jazz
- Hometown:
- Toronto & Calgary, Canada
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DM Reviews
from DanielMenjivar.com
"I was very impressed when I heard Daniel play - he has a powerful and tasteful combination. His sense of time is very precise; his tumbaos are both sweet and strong at the same time. Daniel must be heard - ¡sabroso!"
Feliciano Arango / Bassist - NG La Bandawww.timba.com
"Daniel's performance had tremendous energy, his tumbaos have tremendous force. It was great to work with him."
Jorge Luis Rojas "Rojitas" from Cubawww.rojitasacuario.com
"Absolutely stunning playing!"
J. Betancourt from Cuba
"Daniel Menjivar has become one of the best Latin Jazz bass players in Toronto. He is a hard worker and highly professional. It has been my pleasure to work together..."
Evaristo Machado / Band Leaderwww.evysaoco.com
"Daniel's feel and intensity to music are soothing to the ears and heart. His latin tumbaos are killer!"
Ruddy Bolaños / Toronto Bassist Rudy Bolanos
"Daniel's thorough knowledge of his craft is evident... a bass virtuoso that shows dimension and deep love for Latin music... His playing skills can provide the perfect frame for a timeless Jazz piece, a classical arrangement or a lively Salsa... Daniel's manner is both professional and enthusiastic and is able to effectively engage the audience with his lively performance."
Rodrigo Chávez / Director - Cassava Latin Rhythmswww.cassavalatin.com
"I met Daniel at a recording session at the CBC Glen Gould Studios with Cassava Latin Rhythms. I was looking for a bass player for my Jazz quartet and Daniel was a natural choice. Daniel is an intelligent player, he easily adapts to a variety of styles and has a very easy going personality; it is a pleasure to work with him."
Igor Babich / Saxophonist, Band leaderwww.igorbabich.com
"Daniel is a wonderful musician to work with. A true professional from beginning to end."
Alex Godinez / Proyecto Charanguerowww.proyectocharanguero.com
"Daniel Menjivar is the consummate perfectionist musician. I remember after doing a gig, while the rest of the band was packing up, he would still be going through his intricate patterns on the bass - I was impresed!!!"
Manuel Jara / 2005 JUNO Award Winnerwww.manjar.ca
"Daniel's bass playing sounds more and more promising as time goes by. His accuracy and confidence on the instrument are increasingly evident - listening and imitating masters of his instrument has and continues to pay off for him."
Luisito Orbegoso / Toronto Percussionist
"Daniel is a very serious, talented and professional musician. You can listen to Daniel's playing in the best Latin clubs in Toronto."
Luis Mario Ochoa / Cimarrónwww.LuisMario.com
"I have enjoyed playing and learning with Daniel since the late 90's (mostly Latin formats). I have witnessed his playing develop from a young musician sound into one of the nicest feeling tumbaos in Western Canada."
Jean-Christophe Leroy / Chicago Percussionist
"Daniel has an infectious passion for the music he plays and approaches learning with great interest and dedication. He has a conscientious approach to learning and seeks out opportunities to learn & grow as a player and as a person. His background in Latin and Jazz music runs deep and his 'listening chops' show in the way he plays the bass. You can tell Daniel relishes the opportunity to work with seasoned musicians and pays them great respect. His attitude towards all players is humble and you can tell he understands the subtle, supportive role that the bass needs to play in a group milieu."
Peter Robinson / Livin' In Swingwww.LivinInSwing.com
"I've had the pleasure of playing with Daniel Menjivar. He is an outstanding, disciplined and very reliable musician."
Wilson M. Acevedo / Musical Director - Cachéwww.con-cache.com
"Daniel is a fine, young talent; a very musical bassist."
Will Jarvis / Toronto Bassist
"...I know what to expect from Daniel, and that's perfection!"
Oliver Miguel / Saxophonistwww.olivermiguel.com
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Daniel Menjivar Performances + Events
Biography of Daniel Menjivar
Daniel Menjivar is an accomplished musician with diverse musical interests. His performances in numerous studios and before live audiences have won him recognition as one of the most promising young bass players in North America.
"Daniel's bass playing sounds more and more promising as time goes by..." - Luis Orbegoso, Toronto Percussionist.
Daniel has been playing professionally throughout North America since 1992 - his diverse experiences have helped to shape his distinguished sound and establish a solid foundation in many styles. At the same time, his dedication to Latin genres and its influences in his music are evident in his unwavering sense of time and rhythmic precision.
"...his sense of time is very precise; his tumbaos are both sweet and strong at the same time..." - Feliciano Arango, NG La Banda.
Toronto bandleader Igor Babich states, "Daniel is an intelligent player, he easily adapts to a variety of styles." This uncommon ability to adapt has brought much attention to Daniel and his signature sound - he has played and recorded with many well-known, respected artists, including Juno recipient Hilario Durán, Juno recipient Manuel Jara of Oscar Lopez' band, Grammy Recipient and Rumba-All-Star Israel "Toto" Berriel (formerly of Los Muñequitos de Matanzas), Grammy Academy Member and world-renowned composer Luis Emilio Ríos, Cuban Salsa Star Rojitas, and countless others.
Daniel was born into a musical family with a long heritage of guitar players. His ancestors' musical traditions have been passed down to him since the early age of eight when he began his musical studies. After four years of intense rhythmic and harmonic studies, he started to experiment on different instruments including drums, clarinet, voice, bass and percussion. His love for the electric bass was undeniably strong but even while his bass studies intensified, he continued simultaneous studies on the guitar. Eventually, his proficiency on the bass exceeded his abilities on the guitar, but even today, Daniel continues to play the guitar. "I love using the guitar as a tool to explore harmonic possibilities. It gives me different ideas than I get on the bass." Daniel states.
Daniel has had the good fortune of studying with various internationally acclaimed musicians including the father of Timba, Cuban bass player Feliciano Arango of NG la Banda, New York Session player John Benitez, and the highly sought bassist Dale James. He recently attended the reputable Humber College Institute in Toronto for studies in Jazz and contemporary music while continuing his own research and private studies on the roots and development of Afro-Cuban and traditional Latin American music. His extensive harmonic knowledge and solid grasp of music theory concepts, as well as his modern approach to electric bass technique, have established him with his own roster of aspiring students.
Presently, Daniel is working on various projects with Luis Emilio Ríos while freelancing in the Calgary area where he presently resides. For more information on performances, lessons/clinics or for general inquiries, feel free to contact Daniel directly.