Danny Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is a freelance drummer who has performed as part of the Pat Metheny Group, the Mahavishnu Orchestra,and the Gil Evans Orchestra. He and his percussionist wife Beth have been a members of Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band since 2004. He has been performed on more than 400 CDs, including nine Grammy nominations, resulting in four Grammy Award winners. He is a Nashville resident who is also a member of the University of North Florida jazz faculty, where he teaches as a full-time Professor of Jazz Studies. Danny Gottlieb graduated from the University of Miami in 1975. He has studied privately with Joe Morello, Mel Lewis, Gary Chester, Bob Moses, Ed Soph, Jack DeJohnette.
Gottlieb has worked with the following ensembles: Jeff Berlin Trio; Gary Burton Quartet; Stan Getz Quintet; Pat Metheny Group; Gil Evans Orchestra; Bobby McFerrin Trio; Eddie Gómez Group; Michael Franks Band; John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra; Al Di Meola Project; Mike Stern Trio; Manhattan Jazz Quintet; Manhattan Jazz Orchestra: GRP Big Band; Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; Joe Beck Trio; Lew Soloff Food Group; George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band; WDR Big Band; NDR Big Band; (HR Big Band); (GRP Big Band); Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra; Tip Toe Jazz Orchestra; Randy Brecker Quartet; Neenah Freelon Group; the Blues Brothers Band; Booker T and the MG’s; Jazz is Dead; Pete Levin Trio; Ali Ryerson-Joe Beck Group; Joanne Brackeen Quartet; Bobby Rydell; Joe Farrell Quintet; Andy Laverne Quintet; Jacqui Naylor Band; Fritz Renold Friends; Haru Trio; Knut Varnes Group; Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra; Loren Schoenberg big band; Airto and Flora Purim Group; Chuck Owen Jazz Surge; Jack Wilkins Group, and many more…
Gottlieb performed or recorded with: Sting, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jim Hall, Miroslav Vitous, Wayne Shorter, Larry Coryell, Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Branford Marsalis, Hiram Bullock, Bill Evans, Naná Vasconcelos, Trilok Gurtu, Dino Saluzzi, Mark Murphy, Chris Conner, Mike Abene, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Ernie Wilkins, Mike Wolff, Badal Roy, Hubert Laws, Mike Richmond, John Scofield, Jeff Richman, Alain Caron, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Ken Serio, Nguyên Lê and many more.
Danny Gottlieb appears on over 400 CDs to date, including four Grammy winners. As a leader, he has five CDs under his own name, nine as co-leader of Elements, with Mark Egan; two as co-leader with Pete Levin, and three as co-leader of the Contempo trio, with Mark Soskin and Chip Jackson. A full list is available at his website (dannygottlieb.org).