Daniel Peterson
Listen to Daniel Peterson on the Umm...Drop Podcast.
It’s 2003, and saxophonist Daniel Peterson is finishing up his coursework in saxophone performance at Temple University. “My mother came down for a recital of mine and we learned she had cancer right then,” he recalls. “Kind of spontaneously, I was going to perform a song at the show [and realized] it was kind of about this—this is what’s been happening in my life.” That song, “Wake of Deliverance,” turned into the first written for Peterson’s new album, 5 Simple Worlds.
“I started realizing all these different songs all related to something I felt about loss.” Peterson collected these songs into a seven-track album that tackles different elements of loss and its many variations—of life, of self, of respect.
Yet, Peterson says it’s not a melancholic collection of dirges. “I don’t think it’s depressing at all, even as depressing as the things sometimes were in my own life. I think probably the darkest thing is a poem about my friend dying ... [but] then the next sound is a song I wrote for my fiancée and dedicated to her.”
The transition from slow, deliberate spoken word backed by insistent plucked strings and piercing reeds to a sweet, delicate ballad dedicated to love is surprisingly seamless. The entire album is full of fluent transitions between emotions and musical genres, blending elements of Chicago underground avant-garde jazz, Herbie Hancock post-bop and modern classical arrangements. The album is joyous, engaging and inspiring. Peterson is a consummate composer, and his 10-piece group plays the complex and dense arrangements with aplomb. But despite the myriad harmonies, melodies and chord progressions, it’s also a very visceral, emotional album, able to be appreciated by the master artist and lay fan alike. For the first time, the album will be performed in its entirety by a 10-piece ensemble at his CD release show.
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1. Eddie Vesuvius said... on May 20, 2009 at 08:46AM
“I have already heard this CD and it really is a fantastic album. While it's always great to support local musicians by purchasing their CDs, often times the CD gets listened to once and then tossed aside. Not so with Peterson's album. It sounds great and the music is engaging and powerful. I hope to be able to make the show on Friday.
Eddie”
2. joeldermole said... on May 20, 2009 at 10:07AM
“I'm biased -- obviously -- but Katherine's work on the podcast makes this one of my favorite we've had on Umm...Drop. I was fearing Kenny G shit, but Peterson's work is more interesting than that.”
3. MosDeff said... on May 20, 2009 at 12:02PM
“Dan rules! Check out this show - you will be more than amazed.”
4. dpsola said... on May 20, 2009 at 01:29PM
“Hi thanks, for the compliment, the anti-Kenny G should make most saxophonists happy, hope people can make it out. Thanks Katherine, Mike & PW for the support and interest. AA tonite @ Tritone! Enough with me posting about myself!”
5. Eddie O said... on May 20, 2009 at 02:38PM
“Dan is awesome!! His composing is awesome! See this show!!!!”
6. Joelqp(Poppa) said... on May 24, 2009 at 04:23PM
“What can I say? I'm biased but the fact there was so much foot tapping in the audience from my vantage point at the back of the venue says a lot. Nobody left before it was over which also says a lot.”