Dan Trudell has been a staple on the Chicago Jazz scene for over 30 years. After studying at the famed North Texas State Jazz program, he relocated to the east coast living in NYC and Boston where he performed with the top musicians of the area, including Harold Lane, George Garzone, Jay Brandford, Jim Rotondi, Harold Vick, Alan Dawson, Hal Crook, Montego Joe, Andy Gravish, and Ralph Lalama amongst many others. Through all of that, he also shared an enduring musical partnership with saxophonist Pat Mallinger after meeting at North Texas State.
Since moving to Chicago in 1990, Dan has been a stalwart on its jazz scene, presiding over the piano chair of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra for over 20 years, and equally long for the annual Kennedy Center Honors program in Washington DC. Besides his piano prowess, Dan is an equally gifted organist and was in the original Sabertooth Organ Quartet, performing weekly at the famed Green Mill Jazz Lounge for a decade. Being a top call accompanist, Dan has backed up many established artists including Bob Mintzer, Ira Sullivan, Aretha Franklin, Kurt Elling, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Anne Hampton Calloway, Joe Williams, Jimmy Heath, Buddy DeFranco, Jeff Hamilton, Jimmy Cobb, Bernard Purdie, and Roy Hargrove amongst others.
Dan toured the world on piano with Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts group which included the late great Dennis Irwin on bass, and trumpeter Terrell Stafford. As an organist, he toured Europe with the Alvin Queen Quintet which included Joe Magnarelli, Jessie Davis, and Melvin Sparks. Dan also has played engagements at the Iridium and Smalls Jazz clubs in NYC. This past year, despite the pandemic, Dan did a tour on organ with Count Basie saxophonist Doug Lawrence that included performances with last years NEA Jazz Master, Tootie Heath, and a group with organist Joey DeFrancesco and Harry Connick tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon.
Dan has recorded most notably on the album “The B3 Bombers with Clyde Stubblefield”, which featured Trudell's original compositions. The band performed for 10 years until Clyde’s untimely passing in 2017. His 2023 release "Fishin' Again" is a tribute to Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stubblefield, and his time spent with that band.