Danny Melnick

President & Director

Danny Melnick is privileged to "work" in the music business and has done so since he was 16. It's the only way he's earned a living since high school and it's truly his labor of love. He loves good music and is devoted to sharing it with whomever will listen.

Prior to forming ALE in the autumn of 2007, Danny was the Artistic Director and a Senior Producer at Festival Productions, Inc. He played a central role in producing annual events including the JVC Jazz Festivals in Newport and New York, the Bermuda Music Festival, the Verizon Music Festivals and the Hampton, VA Jazz Festival. He produced the Mellon Jazz Festivals in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and the Freihofer's Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY. His resume includes Artistic Director for the Newport Jazz 50th Anniversary Festival in 2004. All told, Danny has helped to create and produce over 90 festivals in Europe, Japan and the US.

Danny is the Artistic Director for "The Shape of Jazz" series, now in its 6th season, at Carnegie Hall's 599-seat theater Zankel Hall.

From 1996 through 1998, Danny was a Booking Agent at Ted Kurland Associates in Boston, MA. As an agent, he represented the most prominent roster of Jazz artists in throughout the US and Puerto Rico. His client list included Pat Metheny, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Scofield, Danilo Perez and many others.

During his first stint at FPI, (1990-1996), Danny was a Staff Producer for major festivals, tours, jazz cruises and concerts in the U.S., Japan, Europe and Central and South America. He produced the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, numerous jazz cruises on the QE2 and worked on European tours for George Benson, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles and Maceo Parker. He coordinated projects such as the Carnegie Hall Jazz Series and the Blues Alley Japan Jazz Club, and handled all aspects of marketing, sponsorship, merchandise sales, promotions and budgets for festivals and tours.

As an Economics major at The American University in Washington, DC, Danny managed a student band and was the public relations assistant at the famed Blues Alley Jazz Club in Georgetown. He studied international economics and sociology in London and enjoyed a work experience program at the Wembley Stadium and Arena complex where he was exposed to all aspects of how the venue was run, including catering, stage production, venue management and box office operations.

After graduating from college, he returned home to New York and worked at The Blue Note Jazz Club as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

He has been a guest speaker at the Berklee College of Music, Fairfield University, and the New School for Social Research and has served as a panelist and moderator at numerous music conferences.

Danny Melnick lives on Long Beach, Long Island and has traveled to over 30 countries. He is equally comfortable lounging by his pool, chasing after his niece and nephew, practicing meditation and running the tables in Vegas.

Tracy Reid

Senior Producer

Tracy Reid comes to ALE having recently served as an Associate Producer and Production Coordinator for Festival Productions, Inc.

Throughout her eight-year tenure, Tracy booked artists for the legendary Newport Folk Festival, and coordinated event logistics for that festival in addition to the JVC Jazz Festivals in Newport and New York, the Freihofer's Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY and the Bermuda Music Festival; working in tandem with artists, managers, agents and vendors in the process.

In addition to her 'day-job', Tracy has worked on major events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2007-2008), the Essence Music Festival (2005-2007), Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (2005), the Sundance Film Festival (1998-2000), the San Francisco Jazz Festival (1998), the San Francisco International Film Festival (1998) and Woodstock '94. She also discovered the merits of securing the bottom bunk of a tour bus as Tour Ticketing Manager for U2's Elevation Tour (2001) and as Tour Ticketing Associate for Pearl Jam's No Code Tour (1996).

Raised in Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University as a Communications Studies major, Tracy spent a decade in Philadelphia building a solid base of arts administration, box office and venue management skills while employed at the Mann Music Center, the Theatre of Living Arts, TLA Video and the Merriam Theatre.

Tracy is currently an active and proud resident of New York City.