Dan Peterson is a Chicago area based virtuoso guitarist whose style ranges from progressive rock to bebop/free jazz. Dan's new CD, Illinois Jazz Project, features outstanding jazz improvisation, warm guitar tones, and original and engaging compositions. Critical acclaim and an impressive body of recorded work have been achieved over the last 20 years in spite of Dan's reticence to tour and rare live performances.
The latest CD, Illinois Jazz Project, is a solo swing guitar project where Dan is playing all instruments throughout. Paying respect in the style of Tal Farlow, Wes Montgomery, etc. to his guitar heroes, Dan provides a uniquely different CD of jazz/blues, swing guitar and original compositions.
Along with Peterson's original compositions are some interesting covers of The Associations/Wes Montgomery's Windy, The Classic 4's Spooky and accordingly a tribute to his hometown with a layered harmony cool swing version of Kansas City. Check out this original and uncompromising artist by buying Illinois Jazz Project at CDBaby.com
Be sure and check the latest issue of VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE (May 2006) for a great article about Dan Peterson detailing his background, influences and approach to music.
CRITIC'S COMMENTS OF EARLIER WORKS BY DAN PETERSON
"Whether he's firing off supple volleys of jazz runs or experimenting with the avant-garde, Peterson will draw you with his impeccable taste and intense feeling. A satisfying album.... Wonderful mood music."
Guitar Player Magazine (From Review of CD 'New Life Suite')
"Spacious and ethereal, lush tones and deft multitracking abound...Intriguing. Peterson labels the work 'A Prayer for the unborn.'
Guitar Player Magazine (A Prayer For The Innocent)
"A marvelous display of contemporary guitar playing at its most varied and intricately arranged...a guitar Virtuoso."
Audio Magazine (Voice Of The Trees)
"Complex, yet the themes are so fluid, melodically tasty, and are played with such skill, flair and spontaneity, they don't sound the least bit difficult or contrived. Peterson's musical personality insures their originality and quality."
OP Magazine (New Life Suite)
"A Joyous spirit pervading throughout...A choice guitar album."
Guitar Player Magazine (Voice Of The Trees)
"An exceptional guitarist."
Lively Times Magazine
"A skilled guitarist who is pleasing to hear."
Stereo Review Magazine
REVIEW OF ILLINOIS JAZZ PROJECT
By VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE May 2003
"To say Dan Peterson is a skilled jazz guitarist would be an understatement. This is a very atmospheric record with Peterson playing all instruments. ....every cut creates a mood.
(He's) a wonderful player. Single line bursts, beautiful chordal work, and octaves out of Wes' book mix work to create musical landscapes. His "Somewhere Near Kansas City(which is the old chestnut "Kansas City" by Lieber-Stoller) is Jazz-Blues Heaven.
"Windy" expands on Wes Montgomery's version of the Association's 60's pop hit and his version of The Classic's IV's "Spooky" is a tour-de- force with some nice soloing.
You'd be hard pressed to find anyone doing their own album, playing all the instruments and sounding this good. The multi-tracking is smooth and never interferes with the songs. His playing is great throughout and the twenty songs hang together beautifully. It'd be nice to hear other artists do this occasionally and pour their hearts into it as Peterson has."
Vintage Guitar Magazine
May 2003 Issue
REVIEW OF ILLINOIS JAZZ PROJECT
By GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2003
Talented multi-instrumentalist Peterson delivers plenty of smooth, glass-of-Cognac-after-after-a-night-of-clubbing moments on this jazz set, and the hepcats of the playboy glory days will absolutely revel in his melodic forays and tuxedo-sophisticate tone. Another bonus is his reverence for songs and song structures. You can groove to these tracks as background ambience or as a critical listener and never feel as if you're being pulled too far out of your comfort zone. In other words, Illinois Jazz Project is definitely produced to caress and please, rather than challenge your sensibilities of melody, harmony and tone. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but Peterson also manages to add just enough funk (guitar harmonies, interesting melodic shifts, some "blue" bends, etc.) to lift the album out of the realm of invisible cocktail bar music. The only thing that threatens the mellow vibe-out are his percussion parts-which tend to sound stiff and overly bright (on the cymbal work) and are mixed way to far up front to enhance the moods of the gentler tracks-and an occasional sharp bite and ever so slight stumble in his picking. You get the feeling that Peterson would absolutely cook in the right band but , until that happens, Illinois Jazz Project is a real find for jazz lovers jonesing for a more traditional fix.
Micheal Molenda
GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2003
"A Vibrant, Experienced guitarist whose sound evidences the influence of Wes Montgomery and George Benson"-JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE 2003
"Despite great reviews that praised his style, dexterity and compositions, Dan Peterson actually walked away from music for almost a decade due to frustration with the direction commercial music had taken. Now he's back with a new energy and a new CD filled with red hot swing blues, jazz, and rock tunes. Anyone who loves good music and appreciates talented musicians should be grateful for his return. Peterson's new release features the same outstanding skill and taste that brought him critical acclaim for his earlier work....A promising and uncompromising artist whose music is filled with jazz and blues roots but is unquestionably original."
MONITOR MAGAZINE
"His music demonstrates the artistry and tradition of a man who knows his instrument, but still maintains a fresh, youthful exuberance. It's clear that artistic pride and integrity are important to this jazz man. His determination and eagerness to explore are reflected in each record that Peterson produces.
ROLAND US MAGAZINE
REVIEW OF ILLINOIS JAZZ PROJECT
By CHRIS ARMOLD
When Daniel Peterson's CD "Illinois Jazz Project" arrived at my office I was eager to pop it into my CD player and have a listen. I had heard a few cuts from the CD via the web and genuinely enjoyed what I heard. Now...let me clarify that I'm not a jazz cat in any way shape or form. As much as I've tried to become cognizant of jazz I simply have been unable to appreciate much of the wandering, meandering notes of say a pure jazz combo. To my unsophisticated ear it often sounds like three guys playing three unrelated songs. However with that being said, being a guitar player I have great respect and admiration for those players who have the musical savvy to integrate various types and styles into their music. I personally steal snippets of basic jazz licks and chord voicings and use them in my own original compositions with regularity. Those jazzy touches of class not only make my songs sound better but they make me feel like a better player than I probably am.
Daniel Peterson doesn't have any problem convincing his listener that he's got the chops to jazz it up with the best of them. His playing has that savvy and sophistication that's easy to appreciate. It also doesn't hurt that the guy is genuinely musical. To even the uninitiated it's clear he's got a mastery of his instrument and his style of jazz is moving, classy, and in my opinion far removed from that pretentious style that I fail to comprehend. I understand Dan's music; I like how it makes me feel. He's an honest player who let's the notes flow from his fingertips. He knows how to milk a chord for all it's worth and while many a guitarist strives for machinegun-type speed in runs and scales, Dan let's his tone and emotion fill his notes and phrasing. Dan let's his electric guitar drip with sound and you can tell he's trying to squeeze every drop of resonance with each pluck, strum, pick or tap of the strings. For someone who want's to get a quality taste of jazz but doesn't want to have to contend with the confusing depths often associated with the genre, "Illinois Jazz Project" is a perfect choice. The tracks are mostly soothing tunes and they demonstrate the cool sophistication that jazz licks and chords add to a melody. Classic cover tunes such as "Spooky" and "Windy" don't escape Dan's creative and cool spin. To his credit he retains the original feel of both of these tune yet has found a subtle method to make them his own through his tasteful playing. Overall I dig this CD, "Illinois Jazz Project" is a relaxing, wondeful CD to listen to. I did feel that some of the digital percussion sounded a bit stiff and I also was of the opinion that some of the tunes ended abruptly... but that might just be a jazz thing!! Small criticisms indeed for a CD featuring 20 tracks and all the instrumentation is played by one guy. In addition it's all instrumental so no annoying vocals to interfere with the guitar. Yeah.....I enjoyed this CD and Dan Peterson should be grinning on the cover because fresh sounding quality music like his isn't that easy to find.
-Chris Armold
Guitar Digest Magazine
Guitar. com
Even if you don't consider yourself a jazz fan, Daniel Peterson's Illinois Jazz Project has something for anyone who appreciates good musicianship. Peterson plays all the instruments on the record, impressive enough once you hear the layers of tracks piled on each song, but it's the guitar playing that really sets him apart. Make sure you check out "Go (Go Irish)," where Peterson ditches the jazz and lets it rip with some hard rock licks. (Contact: www.cdbaby.com/cd/dpeterson.)
-- Trevor Fisher
ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER
NEWS: Be sure and check out this month's issue (May 2006) of VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE to see an article about Dan Peterson, his background, influences and approach to life and music.
NOTE FROM THE ARTIST: This project was a casual recording by myself overdubbing all guitar, keyboard, bass, synth and drums parts.
This CD started as a "return to recording" venture while I recovered from a nasty car accident several years ago and the CD ended up being kind of interesting so we decided to release it. I'm very blessed that the critic's have been very generous once again in their support of my work with this CD as well as my earlier projects.
Even though it is casual in nature I liked the CD also, so here it is. Most of my recorded work is a little off the mainstream so it may require the listener to be receptive to something different. Thanks everyone for you support.
Best
Regards, Dan
PLEASE NOTE: This CD is NOT released by or affiliated in any way with the the original Jazz Record Label "Landmark/Muse".
Read more...