New album from Peter Daniel

Seattle-based saxophonist and composer Peter Daniel is no stranger to the hustle of the working musician’s life. From touring with legendary artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill or Father John Misty when their shows pass through the Pacific Northwest to laying down jazz-drenched grooves with ODESZA and Tito Puente Jr., Peter has enjoyed a decorated career built on versatility, collaboration and sheer musical talent.

Peter has long balanced roles in respected outfits like 45th St Brass and FUTURENOT, as well as recently introducing a fresh creative outlet in the shape of his new group mega cat, whose debut LP landed at #2 on KEXP’s charts. Now, he steps into the foreground with Quartets, a sensational new solo album released via independent imprint Music Factory Records. Quartets sees him venture further into a personal sonic landscape while distilling years of shared musical experiences into something reflective, layered and joyously alive.

The title Quartets is at once a nod to jazz convention and a structural blueprint; the record comprises a series of tracks built around different rhythm sections and distinct quartets, each curated to best support Peter Daniel’s compositional voice. The result is an album that balances cohesion with contrast, each track based in groove but leaping into its own emotional sphere.

Backing him is a who’s who of the Pacific Northwest scene including the likes of Marina Albero on piano and Rhodes, Joe Doria’s smouldering Hammond organ, guitar work from Andy Coe and RL Heyer, Marina Christopher on upright and electric bass, Jason Gray on bass as well as drummers Xavier D. Lecouturier, Ehssan Karimi, Heather Thomas, Cliff Porter Jr. and Grant Schroff.

Kicking off the ten-track release, opening song “Take A Little Chance” injects an immediate dose of jazz-inflected funk, laying down bouncy sax leads, slick organ textures and shuffling drums, wrapped in an upbeat composition that’s breezy and memorable from start to finish. “Desperate Waltz” slows things down with a smokey jam of fluttering saxophone flourishes, twinkling keys and intricate rhythms while “Grant. Me. This” brings punchy swung rhythms, bold bass stabs and staccato instrumental energy cut with sweeping flickers of Peter’s stunning leads.

“Come Back Together” delivers a gospel-tinged, backbeat-driven anthem with spiritual uplift and deep, soulful context. It’s a track that hints at Peter Daniel’s vision and like much of the album, it carries an backdrop of hope, community and strength. “Pedro Azul” lays down stuttered rhythms propelling free-flowing jazz sophistication and funk swagger before the brief “Ace High” offers an engaging interlude of hurried drum patterns and crisp layers of rhythmic instrumental work.

“So Exciting” brings the album to a close with a playful jam of smooth melodic leads and infectious groove, offering a stellar finale to conclude Peter Daniel’s incredible solo full-length record. This is music made by a community, for a world in need of something real and Peter Daniel offers the perfect musical moment that’s sure to strike a chord with fans around the world. Commenting on the album, he shares, “Each track came to life with a different group of musicians I’ve known and played with for years. The goal was to capture the energy of community, and to let each quartet bring something unique to the table.”

Listen to Quartets below