Niels Lan Doky

Although recognition in the United States has remained limited, Niels Lan Doky ranks among the more commanding pianists of his generation and had issued 14 albums under his own name by 1996. His Danish mother enjoyed success both as a vocalist and with several hit records, while his Vietnamese father balanced a medical career with classical guitar; Doky himself began on guitar at age seven before turning to piano at twelve. At fifteen he performed alongside Thad Jones, who subsequently supplied a letter of recommendation to the Berklee School of Music. Between 1981 and 1984 Doky resided in Boston during his Berklee enrollment, followed by an extended stay in New York before establishing himself in Paris. His sideman credits include Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Jack DeJohnette, Bob Berg, Clark Terry, Tom Harrell, and numerous additional artists, while his own sessions have featured Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Bob Berg, Terri Lyne Carrington, and John Scofield. As a leader he has documented dates for Storyville, Milestone, and Soul Note; in addition, he periodically co-leads the Doky Brothers with his younger brother Chris on bass, a partnership that produced one album for Blue Note.