Donny Frauenhofer is a virtuosic multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, and educator from Buffalo, NY that has been making big waves both regionally as well as nationally in several genres since the start of his professional career. Dipping his toes into multiple scenes, Frauenhofer has become a recognizable name in the jam scene circuit as keyboardist/vocalist with nationally touring act Intrepid Travelers (dubbed “Improvisation Kings” by The Buffalo News Gusto) and their performances at festivals such as Summer Camp Music Festival, Night Lights Music Festival, Some Kind of Jam, Woodhenge Sustainability Festival, among others.
Regionally, Frauenhofer can be found performing all over New York State and beyond, playing in too many projects to count. Truly a rarity, Frauenhofer has shown the versatility as a pianist/keyboardist to perform as a side man in both musically complex academic settings with classical and jazz vocalists, as well as being the first call for local and regional tribute projects such as Allman Brothers’ Band, Phish, Steely Dan, Grateful Dead, Herbie Hancock, Prince, Frank Zappa, Weather Report, James Brown, John Williams, as well as plenty more.
Endlessly in the pursuit of growth as an artist, Donny Frauenhofer takes these diverse influences and puts them on full display in DFB, or Donny Frauenhofer Band. Essentially a supergroup, DFB consists of a rotating cast of some of Buffalo’s best young musicians and takes the tight, rhythmic complexity of Frank Zappa’s music, adds a harmonic layer largely influenced by jazz traditions, and provides an open improvisational approach akin to the traditions of the modern jam band.
Largely known as Buffalo’s best kept secret, the secret may be starting to spread with nominations for “Best Jazz Pianist” in JazzBuffalo’s Reader’s Poll 3 years running, and an award for “Best Jazz Fusion Act” with THE TRUTH, a group he helps compose and arrange for. Constantly rejecting and reinventing narrow labels to expand his craft, Frauenhofer truly best represents an incoming generation of musicians that embrace and access an infinite amount of influences.
"From all walks of life. To describe his stance otherwise, would be demarkative at best. He might be said to epitomize the phrase 'if an egg floats, wear it'. His passion for his craft is unwielding and adematous, and he wouldn't be caught dead in a corner if a butcher asked him twice." - Dr. David Gaita