Dan Peterson

Hi, I am a composer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher in Philadelphia. I play soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, bass, contra-alto and Bb clarinet and a little bit of flute. I have performed in Philly since I moved here in 1997 from N.O.L.A., Albuquerque and originally Boston (hence the hysterical pizza incident below). I have performed at almost every venue in Philly with high points being the Kimmel Center main stage, Painted Bride, Love park and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I lean towards experimental and original music with a jazz bent but have played lots of reggae, blues, traditional jazz and recorded some house music with DJ Phillip Charles and folk-rock with JB Schwakter. Since moving to Philly I've played a lot with my mentor Odean Pope and his Saxophone Choir, he is also featured on my cd on the suite "The Mythic Belief". Other groups aside from my own that I perform with are Bobby Zankel's Warriors of The Wonderful Sound, we have played every first Thursday @ Tritone since it opened in 2000 and have 2 recordings. Puzzlebox Experimwent, for 2 1/2 years, which commonly played @ Chris's Jazz cafe, has 1 recording and performed at the Cape May Jazz fest 2006. Agent Moosehead, from 2006, a rock group with 1 recording and performances at "Some Kind of Jam" festival and John & Peters in New Hope.I've also performed with Dave Burrell, Dave Liebman, John Swana, Billy Harper, Golden Smog, Taylor Ho Bynum and Ravi Coltrane. I have been teaching at St. Martha's Catholic School since 2006, Settlement Music School since 2004 and privately since 1994. I have worked with many musicians in Philly as a performer but I also have spent a considerable amount of time promoting and creating concerts. My baby was Collective Voices Festival that ran as an annual festival for original, Philadelphian music from 2000-2004. From 2003-2004 I worked with 5 other musicians to present a monthly concert series called Risk-Taking Type Music. In general I believe grass roots organizing is essential to our careers. Most of all I would like to see musicians care for each other because the scene tends to be fickel and full of haters. We can help each other and possibly allow the small amount of opportunities grow with a little looking out for each other. My own groups are Truth & Consequence, my quintet which focuses on my compositions. Fraternity of Void, a trio that creates short, improvised, textural episodes. The Bottomfeeders, a showcase for my big contra-alto clarinet, w/ trombone, Baritone sax, bass and drums; a low-end free-funk ensemble. "5 Simple Worlds and Ways of Getting There" is a multi-media song cycle, featuring nonet; it is a Subito Grant funded project from the American Composers Forum the recording will be released in the fall of 2008. Some of my most favorite musical experiences are: Performing with Truth & Consequence @ the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Art after 5, to 1850 people in August of 2007. Arranging, performing and scoring the music for a version of Tennesee Williams "Vieux Carre" with EgoPo theater company for a 3 week run at the Christ church in Olde City. My newest recording "5 Simple Worlds..." Performing/co-scoring "The Gate" with Leah Stein and Toshi Makihara for 3 weeks @ Eastern State Penitentiary a multi-media site specific dance performance. Promoting/presenting Max Roach's final performance in Philadelphia. Opening for Dave Douglas's Witness 2002 @ the Tritone. I love what I'm doing and want it to expand it in any of a myriad of ways teaching, performing, presenting and most of all composing/creating. This layout is from WhateverLife.com; get yours today!