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Biography of Daniel Menjivar

Daniel Menjivar Portrait

Daniel Menjivar is an accomplished musician with diverse musical interests. His performances in numerous studios and before live audiences have won him recognition as one of the most promising young bass players in North America.

"Daniel's bass playing sounds more and more promising as time goes by..." - Luis Orbegoso, Toronto Percussionist.

Daniel has been playing professionally throughout North America since 1992 - his diverse experiences have helped to shape his distinguished sound and establish a solid foundation in many styles. At the same time, his dedication to Latin genres and its influences in his music are evident in his unwavering sense of time and rhythmic precision.

"...his sense of time is very precise; his tumbaos are both sweet and strong at the same time..." - Feliciano Arango, NG La Banda.

Toronto bandleader Igor Babich states, "Daniel is an intelligent player, he easily adapts to a variety of styles." This uncommon ability to adapt has brought much attention to Daniel and his signature sound - he has played and recorded with many well-known, respected artists, including Juno recipient Hilario Durán, Juno recipient Manuel Jara of Oscar Lopez' band, Grammy Recipient and Rumba-All-Star Israel "Toto" Berriel (formerly of Los Muñequitos de Matanzas), Grammy Academy Member and world-renowned composer Luis Emilio Ríos, Cuban Salsa Star Rojitas, and countless others.

Daniel was born into a musical family with a long heritage of guitar players. His ancestors' musical traditions have been passed down to him since the early age of eight when he began his musical studies. After four years of intense rhythmic and harmonic studies, he started to experiment on different instruments including drums, clarinet, voice, bass and percussion. His love for the electric bass was undeniably strong but even while his bass studies intensified, he continued simultaneous studies on the guitar. Eventually, his proficiency on the bass exceeded his abilities on the guitar, but even today, Daniel continues to play the guitar. "I love using the guitar as a tool to explore harmonic possibilities. It gives me different ideas than I get on the bass." Daniel states.

Daniel has had the good fortune of studying with various internationally acclaimed musicians including the father of Timba, Cuban bass player Feliciano Arango of NG la Banda, New York Session player John Benitez, and the highly sought bassist Dale James. He recently attended the reputable Humber College Institute in Toronto for studies in Jazz and contemporary music while continuing his own research and private studies on the roots and development of Afro-Cuban and traditional Latin American music. His extensive harmonic knowledge and solid grasp of music theory concepts, as well as his modern approach to electric bass technique, have established him with his own roster of aspiring students.

Presently, Daniel is working on various projects with Luis Emilio Ríos while freelancing in the Calgary area where he presently resides. For more information on performances, lessons/clinics or for general inquiries, feel free to contact Daniel directly.

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