Dan Pratt is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the New York jazz scene.  In addition to being one of the top young tenor saxophone players in NYC, Dan is an equally gifted composer who has the rare talent of writing music that brings out the strongest qualities of himself and his sidemen.  This is evidenced on his organ quartet debut, Springloaded.

Dan began his studies as a classical baritone saxophonist while a teenager in his native Saratoga, CA.  After hearing the high school jazz band play during his freshman year, he decided to switch to the tenor saxophone and focus on jazz.  Before long, he was performing with local college bands and playing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area with various jazz and salsa groups.  In the summer of his senior year, Dan was accepted to the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Star Band, directed by the late trumpeter and Duke Ellington alumnus, Bill Berry.  With this band he experienced his first taste of the international jazz scene, touring throughout Japan and performing at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival.  After such a plentiful experience in CA, it was then time to motor east.

Upon entering Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1994, Dan studied performance and composition with a host of renowned teachers.  He surrounded himself with many musicians who were exploring music of all forms.  He was drawn to this and dove in head first, doing everything from experimenting with the avant-garde and groove music with friends (including "Soulive" guitarist Eric Krasno), to playing regular harbor cruises with the blues band "The Distractions," and even playing tours of Japan with several jazz quartets.  It was also during this time that Dan was able to benefit from playing with such notable legends as Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and many others.  Dan graduated with honors from Berklee in 1997, after which there was only one place to go: New York City.

After relocating to the Big Apple, Dan immersed himself in the New York jazz scene, and soon developed a strong reputation as a tenor man.  During this time, Dan formed a group with bassist and award-winning composer Noriko Ueda called Duoism, which toured throughout the Northeast and Japan, as well as holding regular spots in New York City.  Dan also maintained many gigs as a sideman, performing with the Village Vanguard Orchestra and a national tour with the vocalist Smitty.  In 1999, he formed the quintet Vista with trumpeter Erik Jekabson. With the release of their critically acclaimed debut album The Arrival in 2000, they toured through New York and New Orleans to rave reviews.  Around the same time, Dan was accepted to the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute at Jazz Aspen Snowmass.  It was at this intensive two-week program that Dan studied and played with such luminaries as Jimmy Smith, Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Brian Blade, Benny Green, and Joshua Redman, to name a few.  Returning to New York after this inspiring experience, Dan continued to thrive within the local jazz scene and began developing his own project.

The Dan Pratt Organ Quartet was formed in the fall of 2001 with various personnel, and not too long after the current personnel was solidified.  Featuring Alan Ferber on trombone, Jared Gold on Hammond organ, and Mark Ferber on drums, the quartet exhibits strong execution, daring communication, and of course an undeniable groove.  The group can be heard regularly in New York and has been touring to promote the release of Springloaded.

Dan currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, where he has been living for seven years.  He continues to focus on his performance growth as well as his composition and arranging voice.  In addition to DPOQ, Dan can be heard all over the New York area with a variety of artists. He is currently a regular member of the Christian McBride Big Band, Jeremy Zmuda Quartet, Pini Shavit Quartet, Dave Smith Quintet, Howard Williams Orchestra, and Noriko Ueda Band.