Composer/Pianist/Keyboardist Dan Stein was exposed to a wide range of music from an early age. His father, an avid pianist and harpsichord player, has wide-ranging musical tastes and a large record collection, and Stein grew up hearing his father playing everything from early classical to baroque symphonies to Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.

Always drawn to the family piano, at 6 Stein wanted to write his own songs, so he asked his parents for piano lessons so he could learn how to write them down. He continued studying classical music through high school, entering in several classical competitions. During high school, Stein also gravitated toward jazz and improvised music, played his first professional gigs, and began writing for the bands he was part of. In 1981 he won the Downbeat Student Recording Awards Best Composition category, and in 1982 his band Crosswind was the runner-up in the Best Small Band category.

A graduate of Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music, Stein's teachers included Geri Allen, Ran Blake, George Garzone, Jimmy Giuffre, Bob Moses, and George Russell. In his final year at the Conservatory Stein studied with free jazz icon Paul Bley, who then hired Stein as the synth programmer for his 1994 album Synth Thesis.

After moving to New York City in the late 90's, Stein established himself as an in-demand sideman, working with a variety of jazz, soul, and blues artists including Dana Fuchs ("Across the Universe"), Wendy Starland (Lady Gaga), Jason Crigler, and many others. He also formed his own band, the Dan Stein Group, which has appeared regularly on the NYC jazz scene.

Along with his work as a sideman, Stein has composed and produced music for a wide range of media, including live dance performance, multi-media installations, and several independent films. His work has appeared on national broadcast television including Dog the Bounty Hunter, WNBA broadcasts, and NHL games.