DANIEL
   SUSNJAR
             

Daniel Susnjar (D.M.A., M.Mus, B.Mus) is a Western Australian drummer/percussionist/composer/producer/educator. He has performed and recorded with music legends including Steve Miller, Gretchen Parlato, Sam Rivers, Danilo Perez, Dr G Yunupingu, Chris Potter, Hossam Ramzy, Mark O’Connor, Gary Burton, Alex Acuña, Pharrell Williams, Victor Wooten, Patti Austin, Ky-Mani Marley, Gloria Gaynor, Take 6, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Arturo Sandoval, to name a few. Daniel has toured throughout the USA, Peru, Australia, Asia and the Caribbean Islands.

 

Alongside jazz legends Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Terence Blanchard and Dave Grusin, he is featured prominently on the 2014 Sony CD/DVD release “Jazz and the Philharmonic,” and also provided the rhythmic foundation for the 2010 Grammy-nominated recording “An Evening with Dave Grusin.”

 

Known internationally for his innovation and expertise in the field of Afro-Peruvian Jazz music, Daniel founded the Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group in 2011. He has released four critically-acclaimed albums ("The Recipe" in 2020, “Spark” in 2018, “Moth to a Flame” in 2016 and “Su Su Nje” in 2014) and has won multiple awards (Australian Jazz Bell, APRA Art Music, WAM) for his unrelenting experimentations (as a drummer and composer) in combining Afro-Peruvian and Jazz sensibilities. In addition, Daniel's solo drum improvisations/compositions can be heard throughout the multi award-winning 2017 film “Whiteley.” 

 

Daniel earned his Doctoral and Masters degrees from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and is an adjunct professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.​

Highlights and Accolades

 

• Winner, 2023 WAM Global Song of the Year

• Winner, 2021 WAM Jazz Song of the Year

• Winner, Best Jazz Act, 2020 WAM Awards 

• Winner, Jazz Work of the Year, 2019 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards WA State Award

• Finalist, 2019 APRA Professional Development Awards

• Winner, Best Drummer/Percussionist, 2018 Western Australian Music Industry (WAM) Awards

• Winner, Jazz Work of the Year, 2017 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards WA State Award

• Winner, Best Jazz Act, 2017 WAM Awards

• Finalist, 2017 APRA Professional Development Awards

• Winner, Best Drummer/Percussionist, 2016 WAM Awards

• Winner, Best Jazz Act, 2016 WAM Awards 

• Winner, 2015 WAM Jazz Song of the Year

• Commission, Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra "Música Criolla," 2015  

• Winner, Best Australian Modern Jazz Album “Su Su Nje”, 2015 Australian Jazz Bell Awards

• Winner, Australian Jazz Song of the Year "Forte Pulse Torte," 2015 Australian Jazz Bell Awards 

• Doctor of Musical Arts degree, University of Miami Frost School of Music, 2013

• Master of Studio Music and Jazz degree, University of Miami Frost School of Music, 2010

• Performed on Grammy-nominated recording “An Evening with Dave Grusin,” 2010 

• Downbeat Student Award, Best Collegiate Large Ensemble, 2010

• ABC Limelight Award, Best Jazz Performance, 2009

• Commission, Perth Jazz Society “Stories from Around the Globe," 2008

• Runner-up, Australia's Best Up and Coming Drummer, 2002

• Bachelor of Performing Arts (Jazz) degree, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, 2000

• Winner, Best Drum Soloist, Drum Mania IV, 1998