Dan Willis Quartet

On their first CD, the self-titled Dan Willis Quartet, award winning jazz saxophonist Dan Willis has teamed up with internationally acclaimed electric guitarist Ben Monder, combining elements of their experiences in jazz, world music and rock to create a body of work that ignores boundaries. Over the ten instrumental tracks, Willis reaches into his heart and composes something that is pure melody, taking his place alongside Charles Lloyd in the pantheon of tender tenor saxophonists with his performance. Guitarist Monder adds ragged, fuzzed textures and a rock tinge to a liquid tone and phrasing that owe a debt to Bill Frisell without sounding like a clone. One critic has stated, "Monder can conjure up images of Metheny and Scofield, as well as an original voice." A solid outing by players who are thoughtfully shaping the music with a personal voice.