Hello, Friends! Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the Internet. My name is Dan Mazer, aka “BanjerDan.” I’m an acoustic musician raised in Washington, DC now living near Santa Cruz, CA. I’m mostly a banjo player, along with a couple of other stringed instruments, and I like to sing songs and tell stories. My deepest musical love is Bluegrass, of course, but I also love other styles ranging from country and folk to jazz and classical music. I have a wide range of extra-musical interests as well, including science, especially evolution and paleontology; as well as art, film, environmentalism, and history.
Live Shows
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
((All shows are BanjerDan solo unless otherwise noted.)
Thursday, 4/2425, 7:00 PM
"Java Jam" at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company
I'll be playing banjo for the "Java Jam" at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company!
The Java Jam is an invitational jam session that takes place at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company every Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both amateur and professional Bluegrass musicians submit their names and respective instruments, and an algorithm puts together a different “band” each week!
The lineup for April 24th is:
Guitar: Gal Klein
Banjo: Scott Dailey
Mandolin: Dan Mazer (BanjerDan)
Fiddle: David Bernard
Bass: Kyla Kent
To learn more about the “Java Jam” and other invitational Bluegrass events in the Bay Area, check out: http://jambot.org/
Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W. Main St., Los Gatos, CA 95030; (408) 354-3263 • lgcrc.com/
"LOS GATOS COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY has been specializing in sourcing and roasting the finest coffees of the world since its inception in 1982. Additionally, the coffeehouse is known as the central gathering place for locals to enjoy coffee, conversation and camaraderie.
"As an independent craft roaster pioneering in the specialty coffee industry, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company is known for setting high-quality standards with its award-winning coffees. In addition, the coffeehouse features award winning local mountain wines, craft beers and live music and entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm to 9pm."
Friday, 4/25/25, 3:00 PM
Private event, San Francisco, CA
Sunday-Wednesday, 4/27-30/25
I'm honored to have been invited once again to teach music at Joe Craven's RiverTunes Spring JAMboree, April 27-30, 2025!
Thursday, 5/1/25, 7:00 PM
I'll be playing banjo for the "Java Jam" at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company!
The Java Jam is an invitational jam session that takes place at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company every Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Both amateur and professional Bluegrass musicians submit their names and respective instruments, and an algorithm puts together a different “band” each week!
The lineup for May 1st is:
Guitar: Judy Forrest
Banjo: Dan Mazer (BanjerDan)
Mandolin: Alan Bond
Fiddle: Bryan McClenahan
Bass: Lou McClenahan
To learn more about the “Java Jam” and other invitational Bluegrass events in the Bay Area, check out: http://jambot.org/
Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W. Main St., Los Gatos, CA 95030; (408) 354-3263 • lgcrc.com/
"LOS GATOS COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY has been specializing in sourcing and roasting the finest coffees of the world since its inception in 1982. Additionally, the coffeehouse is known as the central gathering place for locals to enjoy coffee, conversation and camaraderie.
"As an independent craft roaster pioneering in the specialty coffee industry, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company is known for setting high-quality standards with its award-winning coffees. In addition, the coffeehouse features award winning local mountain wines, craft beers and live music and entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm to 9pm.”
Saturday, 5/3/25, 2:30 PM
I’m truly honored that the good folks at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Centers has invited me to return to perform both days at the Good Old Days Street Festival! I’ll be playing acoustic music on the Chautauqua Stage from 2:30 - 3:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th, 2025.
Chautauqua Hall is located at: 170 16th St., Pacific Grove CA 93950
"Good Old Days Street Festival is Pacific Grove’s premier community event and is returning to Downtown Pacific Grove the first weekend of May!
Each year this FREE event draws a great crowd of locals and visitors, rain or shine! Vendors from multiple states display their arts and crafts alongside a wide variety of food booths stretched down historic Lighthouse Avenue, the largest gathering of arts and crafts vendors in Monterey County.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce at (831) 373-3304 • pacificgrove.org/.
https://business.pacificgrove.org/.../66th-annual-good.../
Sunday, 5/4/25, 2:30 PM
I’m truly honored that the good folks at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Centers has invited me to return to perform both days at the Good Old Days Street Festival! I’ll be playing acoustic music on the Chautauqua Stage from 2:30 - 3:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th, 2025.
Chautauqua Hall is located at: 170 16th St., Pacific Grove CA 93950
"Good Old Days Street Festival is Pacific Grove’s premier community event and is returning to Downtown Pacific Grove the first weekend of May!
Each year this FREE event draws a great crowd of locals and visitors, rain or shine! Vendors from multiple states display their arts and crafts alongside a wide variety of food booths stretched down historic Lighthouse Avenue, the largest gathering of arts and crafts vendors in Monterey County.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce at (831) 373-3304 • pacificgrove.org/.
https://business.pacificgrove.org/.../66th-annual-good.../
Saturday, 5/10/25, 5:00 PM
Colony Sandwich Company, 6040 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93423; (805) 460-6252 • colonymarketanddeli.com/
“At Colony Sandwich Company, we're not just about serving delicious food; we're the ultimate destination for a vibrant blend of flavors, laughter, and community. Enjoy a meal outside, savor a refreshing beverage, and let the kids play. Join us for a unique experience of eating, drinking, and socializing that makes every visit to Colony memorable!”
--BanjerDan (Dan Mazer)
"Wow! Banjos ROCK!"