“Not since the recently departed Ramsey Lewis has a pianist and keyboardist so impactfully, artfully and imaginatively captured the jazzy possibilities of the Beatles catalog as veteran East Coast performer and educator Loren Daniels.”

Jonathan Widran – The JW Vibe – Music That Sticks to My Soul

Not since the recently departed Ramsey Lewis has a pianist and keyboardist so impactfully, artfully and imaginatively captured the jazzy possibilities of the Beatles catalog as veteran East Coast performer and educator Loren Daniels. That’s because in his view, and explaining why he chose one particular Lennon-McCartney tune as the title of his album, “In jazz, every song can be a ‘Ticket to Ride.’”

 Even as he and his trio (bassist Beldon Bullock and drummer Jonathon Peretz) toy cleverly, groovingly and sometimes hypnotically with a mix of the most familiar (“Eight Days a Week”) and relatively obscure (“I’m Only Sleeping”) Fab Four gems, Daniels has one distinct advantage over Lewis. In addition to his ivory, organ, electric piano and melodica wizardry, he’s a supremely soulful singer with a sweet falsetto, and that allows him to emotionally inhabit the material beyond what he could accomplish just with his creative fingers.

Jonathan Widran – The JW Vibe

“On his brand new album, entitled “Ticket To Ride”, Loren Daniels has rearranged, modernized and transformed [The Beatles] music into stirring jazz.

While originally conceived as an acoustic trio set with vocals, the project grew over time with Daniels also being heard on organ, electric piano, melodica, and multi-tracked background vocal harmonies! With fine contributions bu the supportive team of bassists Belden Bullock and drummer Jonathan Peretz, Daniels sings a few well-known Beatles songs along with some that are rarely performed, creating a continually surprising set of music.

The fabulous Ticket To Ride, perhaps the finest recorded showcase for the multi-talented Loren Daniels to date, evokes the coming together of the Beatles and creative jazz, shedding new light on the songs of Lennon and McCartney.”

Anne Carlini – Exclusive Magazine

“There’s an exceptional clarity to this album that’s downright exciting. The overall sound is so clearly delineated in three dimensions, so well-drawn and defined. Everything just pops…Every track is an adventure, full of distinct charms and unique perspectives. This quartet isn’t satisfied with just playing a tune and seeing how it comes out. There’s some thought involved, especially in the way these four performers switch up their styles and see how that adds to the whole…. Smilessence is exactly that, a smile-inducing shot of jazz that captures the essence of who these four performers are, and where they have been.”

The Vinyl Anarchist 

“The greatly anticipated second release by the Reggie Pittman/Loren Daniels Quartet, Smilessence, is a deeply grooving session from beginning to end! Each member of the quartet shines throughout the recording. This “working band” of seasoned jazz performers digs in an delivers the “goods” on the great variety of rhythmic feels that comprise Smilessence. From up-tempo burners to funk, reggae, calypso and ballads, the 11 original compositions and arrangements by Daniels and Pittman grab your ears and never let go! Let the music make you smile, live, thrive, and love. Smilessence is here! Up front spectacular collection by four master musicians.”

Grady Harp – Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer
Amazon.com

“Leaders Loren Daniels and Reggie Pittman co-lead a swinging quartet through a swinging collection of bop-themed originals and standards. Pittman’s got a golden tone akin to Art Farmer and he glistens on the snappy ‘Knee High to a Bee Bop’ and the hip ‘You’d Better Say Alice’ while flowing on the muted horn on an autumnal ‘And it Goes…On.’ Daniels is gentle and casual as he teams with Peretz’s ride cymbal on ‘Change’ and is lithe on ‘There Is No Greater Love.’  The rhythm team is aplomb and able to go from reggae on ‘2 Hip 2B’ to Latin on the keyboarded title track and gallop to the finish on the mercurial ‘Straight Up.’ No frills, just thrills.”

Jazz Weekly

“New Jersey is the home base for the REGGIE PITTMAN-LOREN DANIELS QUARTET.  They have just released their second album, Smilessence.… The music covers many bases, a touch of swing, some bebop, nice ballad playing, and even some traces of calypso.  Pittman is at his mellow best on the slower pieces, and has a crisp excitement to his approach as the tempi increase. Daniels plays piano, electric piano and Hammond B3 organ, all with equal facility. Richmond (bass) and Peretz (drums) provide solid support.  The group exhibits the kind of tightness that comes from being together as a working group.  The original compositions are all catchy tunes that should find other musicians welcoming them into their repertoires.  Smilessence is definitely a smile-inducing album.

Joe Lang, New Jersey Jazz Society – March 2018 issue