The Knight of Jazz
 

PRESS ASSETS

Below you can find all the assets you might need for press or promotional purposes including HI RES PHOTOS, FAST FACTS & PRESS QUOTES

 

PRESS PHOTOS

Click on the desired image to download and credit the photographer mentioned in the image name and file name.

If other material is needed, contact artist manager: Jonas@NielsLanDoky.com.

 
 

ABOUT NIELS LAN DOKY

When the world-renowned Danish jazz pianist and composer Niels Lan Doky released his debut album back in 1986, the American writer Dan Morgenstern wrote: “There is nothing more encouraging and satisfying than to encounter for the first time a young Jazz musician of real stature, someone who can make you feel that the future of the music is in good hands. There can not be the slightest doubt that Doky’s talent is of real significance - that rare thing in the Jazz of our time, an original voice in the great tradition”. Since then, Niels Lan Doky has released 44 albums, been called “the best pianist of his generation” and continues to have one of the most extensive and unusual careers ever seen in music, which - aside from performing, arranging, composing and producing music - also has included work as a film director, author, venue owner, speaker and more. He was Knighted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in 2010, has given a TEDx talk, performed for Pope Jean Paul II at the Vatican, and has appeared on bestseller lists in Europe and Asia.

In 2022, for the first time since corona, Niels Lan Doky has been able to resume extensive international tours and the demand has been overwhelming. Doky has been touring most of the summer 2022 around Europe with Billy Cobham, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans and Linley Marthe as the Modern Standards Supergroup. In addition, he had an comprehensive European tour with Darryl Jones, Harvey Mason and Bill Evans as the Jazz/Takes Supergroup in the fall of 2022 and will once again be on the road in the spring of 2023 with Harvey Mason, Bill Evans and Felix Patorius.

ABOUT - NIELS LAN DOKY TRIO // “YESTERDAY’S FUTURE”

Live at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark

Per Kirkeby - “Portugalia” on the front cover

This album was recorded live at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, on the first day of Spring 2022 and shortly after the end of the final COVID-19 lockdown. Needless to say there was a great need for hope and new beginnings for everyone at that time. Doing a Spring concert on the actual first day of Spring, at one of Denmark’s most beautiful and most beloved venues seemed like the perfect thing to do for Niels Lan Doky, who also chose to do the concert in the afternoon, in order for the splendor of the museum’s gardens, the spectacular seaview and the coast of Sweden across the Øresund straight to be visible from the concert hall’s panoramic windows, in addition to the large painting entitled “Portugalia” by Per Kirkeby, one of Denmark’s most iconic painters, which serves as the concert hall’s stage backdrop. Subsequently to the decision to record and release this concert as a full length double LP, the Per Kirkeby Estate generously gave their permission for Portugalia to be used as artwork for the album cover. 

The 2 years of pandemic, with all of its repeated lockdowns, social distancing and disruptions of activity, gave Niels Lan Doky an occasion to reflect deeper on the state of the world, on the past present and future, and on the meaning of our existence. All of those reflections became encapsulated in the program that Niels Lan Doky prepared for this concert which he gave the abstract poetic title “Yesterday’s Future”, which also became the title of his latest new composition that concludes the concert.

NIELS LAN DOKY TRIO’S “YESTERDAY’S FUTURE” (RELEASED BY 1ST TIME RECORDS / DIGITALLY DISTRIBUTED BY BELIEVE) WILL BE AVAILABLE ON VINYL EXCLUSIVELY AT THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART AND AT 1ST TIME RECORDS, AS WELL AS ON STREAMING PLATFORMS WORLDWIDE ON FRIDAY, MAY 26TH, 2023.

 
 

PRESS QUOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
ON NIELS LAN DOKY

El Diaria (Spain): “Lan Doky - I mentioned it on one occasion-  is one of the most important European pianists of the last, now 50 years.” - Andrés Garrido, 2023 // San Javier Festival Review (read the entire review here)

La Opinion De Murcia (Spain): "An uneven mix of the romantic and the rhythmic, which tends to explode, like fireworks, in all directions" - Ángel H. Sopena, 2023 // San Javier Festival Review (read the entire review here)

El Diaria (Spain): "Lyricism and freedom. Blissful and unforgettable moments. His trio partners, the Dall brothers, are the perfect accompanists to his compositions and performances". - Andrés Garrido, 2023 // San Javier Festival Review (read the entire review here)

La Opinion De Murcia (Spain): "He is firmly focused on the melody, exhibiting a rare and disproportionately strong sensibility reminiscent of Erroll Garner and Bill Evans." - Ángel H. Sopena, 2023 // San Javier Festival Review (read the entire review here)

Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University (USA): "There is nothing more encouraging and satisfying than to encounter for the first time a young Jazz musician of real stature, someone who can make you feel that the future of the music is in good hands. There can not be the slightest doubt that Doky's talent is of real significance - that rare thing in the Jazz of our time, an original voice in the great tradition." - Dan Morgenstern, 1986

Swing Journal (Japan): “Niels Lan Doky is the best pianist of his generation. I am stunned by the freshness of his music.” - Sugita Hiroki

International Herald Tribune (New York Times International Edition - USA): “Niels is not gloating about being at the top. He just belongs there.” - Mike Zwerin

El Diario, (Spain): “One of the most important pianists that European jazz has given us in the last 45 years” -Andrés Garrido

Plurimeida Spectacles (France): “This Danish pianist is one of the most prolific musicians of his generation. Nothing stops his excessive and relentless musical research on levels only accessible to the greatest artists in jazz”

New York Times (USA): “Fresh and provocative approaches” - John S. Wilson

Jazziz (USA): “A sound all his own. It is difficult not to come away very impressed.” - Scott Yanow

Hot House (USA): “Inventive and ultra lyrical.” - Gene Kalbacher (USA)

JazzTimes (USA): “His songs (...) could serve as evocative soundtracks for glamorous films – romances, jewel heists.” - Leslie Gourse

Telerama (France): “A very personal romantic sensibility. A melodist, with a deep and enlightening touch.”… “Niels Lan Doky has proven to become one of the most convincing disciples of Bill Evans. Niels has also assimilated the history of jazz piano, by going back to at least Art Tatum, instead of stopping, as many do, at Hancock and Jarrett, to explore the post-Evans era”. - Michel Contat

A Nous Paris (France): “The master of Nordic jazz.” - Stéphane Koechlin

Le Monde (France): "If one needed proof of the strength of Danish jazz, this proof would be named Niels Lan Doky"

Jazz Journal (UK): "Niels Lan Doky is a pianist of many parts. He can be spikily laconic, appropriately rhapsodic and fiercely muscular. He is also a most sensitive accompanist." - Richard Palmer

Down Beat Magazine, (USA): “Airy textures and ironic, almost humorous detachment [...] playful and bluesy [...] tender meditation.... clever conversation." (****) - Larry Birnbaum

Down Beat Magazine, (USA): "Kicks and spins, has command of rhythmic enticement. Has a romantic streak, and a spirit of harmonic adventurousness. Sounds fresh and gives some future scope to the acoustic piano." - Owen Cordle

Billboard Magazine (USA): “Burns with memorable themes and excellent playing."

Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden): "He has the same sparkling charisma as guitarist Pat Metheny. Intelligent, imaginative and wonderful!" - Ingrid Strömdahl

Berlingske Tidende (Denmark): "Doky masters the language of Jazz with amazing superiority. His solos are characterized by thematic and harmonic ingenious and he can stretch the rhythm to the bursting point. Doky can make his instrument sing." - Jørgen Siegumfeldt

Aktuelt (Denmark): "Doky is a Jazz giant!" - Karl Emil Frederiksen

La Verdad, (Spain): “Playing from the heart, raising the audience some centimeters from the ground, combining perfect execution and internal tidal waves” - Alexia Salas

La Opinion de Murcia, (Spain):  “Full of beauty and a certain spirituality. The music of Niels Lan Doky is vibrant, committed, and very personal, without excessive virtuosity or superfluous special effects... This pianist has nothing to prove as he exhibits such an exceptional sensibility so rare in our day.” - Ángel H. Sopena

MeinBezirk, (Austria): “Niels Lan Doky, with a constant smile at the piano, looks back on his collaborations with greats like Randy Brecker and John Scofield and he can clearly be counted among this elite.” - Alexandra Rangger

 
 

FAST FACTS ON THE KNIGHT OF JAZZ

Access a Mini-Bio and/or a deep dive into his journey through the periods of his life on the STORY page.

  • Born October 3rd, 1963 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Jazz pianist, composer and producer. Also a film director, published author and lecturer.

  • Knighted by HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on April 16,  2010.

  • International elite career spanning over 43 albums released under his own name since 1986.

  • Prodigy and professionally active since the age of 13.

  • Graduated w/ honors from Boston’s Berklee School of Music in 1984; Winner of The Oscar Peterson Award, The Count Basie Award, and The Boston Jazz Society Achievement Award.

  • Collaborations with a majority of the jazz world’s greatest artists (for more info, see list HERE)

  • Has performed for the world elite (Pope John Paul II, Sir Roger Moore, etc).

  • Has lived most of his life abroad (Boston, New York, Paris and London).

  • Co-founded the reopening of jazz club Montmartre in Copenhagen in 2010.

  • Returned to Denmark in 2013 to open The Standard Jazz Club with father of the New Nordic food movement, Claus Meyer.

  • Has won numerous awards, accolades, gold discs, a.o. in both Europe, North America and Asia.

  • Gave the TEDx Talk "How Jazz Wisdom Will Change Your Life" in 2016.

  • Published the book "Improvisation - in music, work and life" (Gyldendal) in 2015 (Danish language only)

  • His first feature film "Between a Smile and a Tear" had its theatrical premiere in 2005.

  • Member of The Danish Arts Council (2003-2007).

  • Appeared on the American TV news channel PBS NewsHour alongside Yo-Yo Ma og Paul Simon in March 2020 in a piece about the COVID-19 crisis and music’s power.

  • Appeared on the United Nations International Jazz Day April 30, 2020 live from the Foreign Ministry of Denmark in a globally broadcasted concert hosted by Danish foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod.