Danny Kolke

Jazz Musician, Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Educator, Jazz Club maker, Music Teacher, Husband and Father of Three, … and former tech entrepreneur

Jazz Musician…

As a Jazz pianist, Danny Kolke is known for his aggressive technique, passionate voicings and hard swinging blues and gospel feel. As Jim Wilke (KNKX / Jazz After Hours Public Radio International) has said, “if you like trio’s like those of Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, you are going to like this trio.”

Danny plays piano regularly at Boxleys in North Bend and he has four CD’s on the Pony Boy Records label. His most recent CD, “When You’re Smiling” is a hard-swinging traditional piano trio album with some new twists, a must have. Danny’s previous album “Danny Kolke Trio +One Featuring Pete Christlieb”, add’s Pete’s amazing legendary Tenor sound to the dynamic group. Danny’s other Trio recordings are “Sunday Nights, Live at Boxley’s” and “A New Meaning”.
[More info on Danny’s CD’s are available here.]

Jazz club and restaurant…

In 2009, Danny founded Boxleys jazz club, clearly the “Best Jazz Club in North Bend Washington”. But Boxleys became known around the world, becoming ranked as one of the best Jazz clubs in the world according to Downbeat Magazine. Boxleys was an amazing and almost magical place from the day it opened until 2016 when they decided to close it’s doors and focus on the nonprofit organization. In 2018 Boxleys reopened in it’s current location as performance venue with limited beverage menu.
[Read more about the Boxleys Story here.]

Nonprofit Organization…

In 2010, Danny founded the Boxley Music Fund (now JazzClubsNW), a nonprofit 501c3 based organization committed to helping support live music performance and Jazz education. JazzClubsNW is a membership based organization that pays musicians to host clinics and workshops, public performances as well as organize Jazz & Blues festivals. For more than 7 years JazzClubsNW is turning out to be a big success supporting efforts to promote Jazz education and performance across the Northwest. JazzClubsNW has also sponsored Jazz nonprofits in Bellingham and Tacoma Washington as well as launching Jazz Festivals in Tacoma, Olympia and North Bend. Danny continues to serve on the board of the organization and volunteer at numerous events. If you aren’t a member yet, you should be.
[More info at jazzclubsnw.org]

Jazz & Blues Festivals…

In 2012, Danny founded the North Bend Jazz Walk and in 2013, the North Bend Blues Walk. Both events feature local and regional artists performing in restaurants, a movie theatre, cafe’s, coffee shops, retail stores, car dealerships, etc. all turned into venues for the night. Hundreds of musicians have performed at these festivals and thousands upon thousands have attended over the last several years having a tremendous impact on the community and musicians. These festivals are still in operation and largely organized by volunteers.
[More info at: northbendjazzwalk.com and northbendblueswalk.com]