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Sunday, July 27, 2025
— a “hybrid” event —
Meet The Dan Hand Band
Sara Zhu, flute/vocals
Daniel Brown, bass guitar
Joey Antico, drums
The Dan Hand Band was born out of musical deviations that Daniel spontaneously pursued on gigs. Some of them are better off forgotten, but some resonated with other musicians and audiences. The pieces here are the culmination of those deviations after being overthought, revised, edited, and revised again. Enjoy!
PROGRAM
Shades of Brown (D. Brown)
Wave (A.C. Jobim)
Kibel n’ Bits (D. Brown)
Let Me Love You (S. Storch, K. Houff, S. Smith)
Gilead (D. Brown)
Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise (S. Romberg, O. Hammerstein)
All of You (C. Porter)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
Take the “A” Train (B. Strayhorn)
BIOGRAPHY
Daniel Brown is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee and comes from a family of professional musicians. He received a Master of Music degree from George Mason University in Jazz Studies and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tennessee in Studio and Jazz Music with a concentration in Double Bass Performance. He has studied bass with Rusty Holloway, Michael Moore, Eddie Gomez, John Clayton, Joel DiBartolo, and Glenn Dewey and improvisation with Jerry Coker, Donald Brown, Greg Tardy, and Wade Beach.
An adept performer in many styles, he has played everything from classical, jazz, and rock to klezmer and folk music from South America. He has performed or recorded with Harold Mabern, Jerry Coker, Sean Jones, Greg Tardy, Rick Whitehead, Donald Brown, The Black Lillies, Allyn Johnson, Seth Kibel, John Lee, Tedd Baker, Jesse McCartney, Steve Herberman, Joe McCarthy, Bill Mobley, Billy Contreras, Victor Provost, and Jeremy Wilson.
He performs often in the DMV area with a number of playing “residencies” and is a faculty member of Northern Virginia Community College as an instructor of double bass and electric bass in all styles.
Sara Zhu is a genre blending jazz flutist, vocalist, and songwriter based in the Washington, DC area. Zhu performs regularly as both a leader and side-woman in many of DC’s staple establishments including Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center, Strathmore, and The Kreeger Museum. She is featured on Alfred Yun’s recent album, “Voice and Phenomenon,” amongst many other recording projects. In addition to performing, Zhu is an avid educator, serving as the adjunct flute instructor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Zhu is currently working on the first album with her alt-rock band, Your Trusted Officials. Their single, “Everglades,” will be released on August 22nd, 2025 on all streaming platforms.
Joey Antico is a world-class drummer and percussionist, highly in demand both in the DMV area and beyond. While rooted in jazz, Antico is passionate about bridging the gap between diverse musical styles. As a local and touring musician, Antico has had the privilege of performing alongside a wide range of acclaimed artists, including Tony Award-winning actress and singer Bernadette Peters, jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, acclaimed rapper .idk., steelpan virtuoso Josanne Francis, and Pop RnB artist Brooklyn Kohl, among others. His adaptability, creative instincts, and rhythmic precision make him a standout collaborator on any stage.
Antico’s achievements include being named an Artist in Residence at Strathmore Music Center—a recognition that led to a headline performance at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage debuting his standout project Joey Antico Collected Sound . His career has also taken him to some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including NPR’s Tiny Desk, Capital One Arena, and the 9:30 Club, where he continues to captivate audiences with his expressive, high-energy performances.His musical journey has extended internationally as well. In 2021, Antico traveled to Haiti to perform at PAPJAZZ Fest, an experience that further solidified his role as a global ambassador of rhythm and cultural exchange.With a deep respect for tradition and a constant eye toward innovation, Joey Antico continues to push musical boundaries—always listening, always evolving.
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