We had the good fortune of connecting with Danny Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danny, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in San Diego, and have lived here my whole life. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had moved, or chose to move now in regards to my career and lifestyle. I am fortunate enough to have had parents that were able and willing to invest in my talents at a young age, from a new saxophone, to lessons that went along with it. With these blessings I was able to build on (and still seek to build on) a talent that was already an enjoyable investment of my time and energy, and was able to attain to a certain level of skill in making music. After graduating from Vista high school I realized that I still needed to work harder and practice more, because, as it turns out, I wasn’t the only one with this talent. Over the 10 years since then I have dug my toes deep into the sand here, so to speak, and built connections and lifelong friendships with other skilled and talented musicians. While I do have a longing desire to live somewhere other than this place I’ve always known and loved, I know it will be difficult to leave behind what I’ve been able to build up so far.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work primarily as a professional saxophonist in a time and place that I feel does not give credit or appreciation to artists where it is due. This especially was true over the last 5 years with COVID. Art and music was regarded as about the most inessential work at the time, and it showed. Granted, as an artist I wasn’t out saving lives or developing a vaccine, but one thing that I saw continually bringing people together with joy and peace in this time was the creation of music and art. I saw new ways of creating that were birthed from these struggle, so that everday people could still get an intake of that which makes us human, and to me this proved the importance and necessity for art and music in these dark times. Be that as it may, the first year of COVID was a challenge for myself and many artists, but since then, I have been able to capitalize and develop further my skills as a musician. From recording to arranging and writing, to performing live, wether at bars or at weddings, things have boomed quite a bit since 2020, and I have been very blessed to be apart of it in this community.
I would say that I am still figuring out my brand and the direction of my career. Lately I have been focused on creating a more stable means of income in a city that is getting more and more expensive, seeking opportunities in all facets of music and expanding my skill set to be a more versatile and in demand artist. You can check out my website at dannygsax.com for my upcoming shows, recording projects that I’ve been apart of, and how to get in touch with me. If you’re looking for a teacher in music, saxophone, flute, piano, electric bass or music theory, or if you’re looking for someone to record on your track, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh yeah, if you’re looking for live music, good eats and good vibes, I can tell you all about that. On Monday night we’re hitting up Rosie O’ Grady’s for the weekly jazz jam session hosted by my buddy Louis Valenzuela, it’s always a good time at this spot. There is a funk jam session at the same location on Tuesdays as well. Wednesdays head on over to Panama 66 in balboa park for good eats, good brew and the Jazz Jam session hosted by Gilbert Castellanos, featuring San Diego’s next generation of jazz musicians, the Young Lions. If you’re in north county, be sure to check out the Jazzy Wishbone for $.99 wings and a funk jam session aptly titled the “pocket jam session”, hosted by yours truly. I also really love going to Beaumonts in La Jolla for good food and fun late night music. You can also never go wrong with a trip to Lou Lou’s jungle room, located inside the historic La Fayette hotel off of El Cajon Blvd. I’ve -layers at this joint 4 times and the vibe is always immaculate.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I thank God for all that I am today, without Him I would truly not be where I am. Secondly I am thankful for the love and support of my family, who have always invested in me and been my biggest promoters. There’s no way I would have stuck with this if it weren’t for them. I also would like to thank the mentorship of some very special teachers and professors over the years, especially Ralph Ewell, who was my band director at Vista High School, Steve Torok, my professor from MiraCosta college, Paul Kurokawa and Ellen Weller from Palomar college. Their guidance and teaching really elevated my skill and drive over the years. Lastly, credit is due to so many uplifting and skilled musicians in the scene, Koosha Hakimi, Josh Fronteiro, Caleb Roner, Arek Gralnic, and so many others who were foundational to the development of my comfort and joy in performing live, as well as the members of the bands I am currently apart of, the Bywater Skanks, ThaPact, and the B Sections. I owe all of these guys and girls credit for so many memorable experiences and so much of my growth.

Website: https://Dannygsax.com

Instagram: Dannyg_sax

Image Credits
Bands I am in;
The B sections
ThenBywatwer skanks

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