Grammy-nominated drummer, composer and arranger Dan Pugach wanted to be a rock drummer growing up in Israel. Part of his military service there included being a part of the Air Force Band.
Eventually jazz would become Pugach's music of choice. He was greatly influenced by the legendary Roy Haynes.
Dan moved to the United States in 2006 and received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music, and received his Masters in Music from the City College of New York.
The latest Dan Pugach Big Band Album is titled Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence (released last month on the Outside in Music label).
Dan and his wife, Grammy Award-winning singer Nicole Zuraitis, have been passionate about fostering, rehabilitating and saving Pit bulls since 2011. Bianca was their first rescue.
Two of the tracks on new album are really tributes to their past and present pitfalls, "Bianca". and "Bella the Bear" which is a lovely arrangement about the couple's current Pit bull Bella. They rescued Bella in 2020.
Dan is also the featured drummer on the 2024 Grammy-Award winning album How Love Begins co-produced by Nicole Zuraitis and bassist Christian McBride.
You can SEE the entire conversation with Dan Pugach here.
