Danny Menezes is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer, born in Juazeiro do Norte and raised in Natal and Rio de Janeiro. His music blends Soul, Pop, R&B, and Brazilian Contemporary styles with a cinematic and emotional sound. Now based in Luxembourg, Danny performs across Europe, bringing a unique fusion of Brazilian warmth and modern soul to international audiences.
Danny’s connection with music began early. By the age of 17, he was already a professional guitarist performing with local bands and backing well-known Brazilian artists. Over the years, he developed his craft both on stage and in the studio — producing albums for Brazilian and international musicians. In his solo career, Danny has opened shows for some of Brazil’s most respected artists, including Ed Motta, Adriana Calcanhotto, Jorge Vercillo, Zé Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo, and Roupa Nova. After solid years performing in Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Lapa district, Danny spent many years immersed in the city’s vibrant nightlife, where his musical identity truly matured. Performing night after night in renowned venues, he refined his stage presence, expanded his repertoire, and absorbed the essence of Brazil’s most bohemian and creative atmosphere. This period became a defining chapter in his artistic evolution — shaping the soulful performer he is today.

I am a jazz pianist with a contemporary leaning. My doctoral research has provided an analytical lexicon that can be used to understand music in terms of what is defined as consonance and dissonance found in western music as a whole. Although informed by academia, I am primarily a performer, composer and accompanist residing in Auckland, New Zealand. I am a presenter of 95bFM's The Jazz Show, and write the X-Factory column for NZ Musician Magazine.

I was a guest arranger for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s production of Hansel and Gretel, written by acclaimed composer Claire Cowan, and recorded for an album by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2020. In 2021 I collaborated with Troy Kingi on a soon to be released single entitled Dreams, and co-wrote an album with Latin Grammy Award Winner Mireya Ramos (Flor de Toloache – NYC). In August 2021, I recorded with Allana Goldsmith, a track called Tīpuna, due to be released on the Waiata Anthems 3 project in September 2021. I have been lucky enough to perform alongside some giants of jazz including Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea), Mark Kramer (Eddie Gomez), Cley Jenkins (Buddy Rich & Count Basie) as well as Andy Vargas (Santana), Mireya Ramos (Latin Grammy Award Winner) and a Broadway cast. I have also performed many times on most New Zealand TV networks. I have enjoyed working with acts such as King Kapisi, Che-Fu, Troy Kingi, Mireya Ramos (NYC), Tony Christie (UK), Anika Moa, Don McGlashan, Batucada Sound Machine, Bella Kalolo, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Topp Twins.
I worked for eighteen months in the Middle East as a musical director; a pianist/MD for ProShip (Canada) for two years; and have released two albums under the pseudonym of Ironic Trio, and as an engineer and pianist of Henrique Morales’ debut studio album Alô Brazil (2021), a collaboration between Brazilian and New Zealand musicians, sung by Morales and written by Fernando Corona (ES). My latest solo projects are Rhodes Scholar, a trio album, and Solo, a solo piano EP consisting of original compositions. My last major role was as a piano player in a US touring/Broadway production of Chicago (the musical), June-August 2015 in Seoul, Korea. I have been writing and performing extensively with Mireya Ramos (Flor de Toloache) whilst she has been in New Zealand. I have been published in Downbeat (US).
My background is in early music including basso continuo in the UK. My doctoral research was focused on developing an analytical model that can be used to understand music in terms of consonance and dissonance pertaining to melody, harmony, rhythm, organic unity and genre.
I have expertise in the subjects including music, music technology, performance, musicology, and I have experience in programme design both at tertiary and school level having recently sat on the NZQA panel charged with the task of reviewing unit standards for music technology L1-3. I have run government Networks of Expertise workshops in 2020 teaching popular music analysis to secondary school teachers, and am currently active on the Music Subject Experts Group, reviewing achievement standards at secondary school level at NCEA levels 1-3.

I own and manage www.jazzpiano.co.nz, a website focusing on the study of jazz, with particular emphasis on the music of Brad Mehldau. I am a presenter of The Jazz Show, a radio show on 95bFM and I am the writer of the X-Factory column, part of New Zealand Musician (www.nzmusician.co.nz). I am the pianist for the Allana Goldsmith group, which has headlined at major jazz festivals, and pianist / composer for The Ironic Trio, a composition of which was selected by Alyn Shipton to form his album ‘The Jazz Café’ on Air New Zealand flights.

Aotearoa Avaikinui (Cook Islands) Jamaica

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