Danton Boller

Adjunct Instructor of Music
Applied Jazz Bass

Danton Boller is a bassist, composer, producer, and educator in New York City. He has toured internationally and recorded with many top jazz artists as a member of the Roy

Danton Boller
Photograph by John Abbott
September 15, 2021
South Broadway, Irvington NY
Lyndhurst Castle, Tarrytown NY

Hargrove Quintet, Grammy nominated Roy Hargrove Big Band, Seamus Blake Quartet, Ari Hoenig’s “Punk Bop,” Willie Jones III Quartet, and the Grammy nominated Anthony Wilson Nonet, to name a few.

During his time with Roy Hargrove, Danton was featured on two of Hargrove’s most popular albums – Earfood (RH Quintet) and Emergence (RH Big Band). Hargrove’s hit song “Strasbourg St. Denis” opens with Danton’s captivating bass intro, and has gone on to become one of the best known new jazz standards around the world, with over 13 million streams on Spotify alone. Danton is also highlighted on the DVD The Roy Hargrove Quintet – Live at the New Morning, which has inspired generations.
While living near Los Angeles at the age of 16, Danton had the good fortune to begin studying the double bass with legendary bassist “Senator” Eugene J. Wright of the iconic Dave Brubeck Quartet. This mentorship and friendship lasted a lifetime, and Danton now carries Senators’ legacy as the owner of his beloved bass, immortalized on the infamous “Take Five” recording.

Danton began playing professionally in Southern California as a teenager, while earning his degree in Music Performance at California State University Long Beach. He became a sought after musician and progressed musically by playing with the likes of Ernie Andrews, Willie Jones III, Bobby Shew, Greg Kurstin, Jack Sheldon, Donald Vega, Roy McCurdy, Larance Marable, Gilbert Castellanos, Art Hillery, and Ron Stout.

After moving to NYC in 1997, Danton was quickly embraced by the east coast music scene. He toured and performed with legends such as Mulgrew Miller, Alvin Queen, Bennie Wallace, Ronnie Mathews, Steve Nelson, Kenny Barron, Russell Malone, and the Village Vanguard Orchestra, as well as top artists such as Robert Glasper, Kurt Elling, Greg Tardy, Aaron Goldberg, Jeff Siegel, Lee Metcalf, Adam Rafferty, Eric Person, Greg Glassman, and Rodney Jones.
Danton’s genuine love for all musical genres has propelled him to the stage and studio with an eclectic array of influential artists outside of the jazz world, such as: Elvis Costello, Run the Jewels, Bridget Everett, Elysian Fields, Taylor Mac (MacArthur Genius and Kennedy Prize recipient), Broadway’s Fela! (featuring Patti Labelle), Alexi Murdoch, Taran Killam, Keller Williams, Jazz Mandolin Project, and Jon Fishman (Phish).

Currently, Danton can be seen performing in the HBO documentary film Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music. He also appears on screen in the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy, in a performance scene with Mx Justin Vivian Bond.

Danton served as music director/arranger and bassist for Kat Edmonson on Austin City Limits “Norah Jones/ Kat Edmonson” Season 38 Episode 8. He also co-produced Edmonson’s highly lauded release on Sony records, Way Down Low, with Al Schmidt (Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Henry Mancini).

Danton’s 2023 release SPACE showcases his original compositions, arranging and producing. This debut album on his newly formed ONBO Records label features fellow Roy Hargrove Quintet alumni Justin Robinson, Willie Jones III, and Tadataka Unno, with the addition of John Ellis, Jeremy Wilms, and Yusuke Yamamoto.