BIOGRAPHY

Horizons Quartet is the newest collaboration between young artists; pianist, James Collins and saxophonist, Dan Wilkins, featuring original music by Wilkins, with veteran bassist Gene Perla and drummer Byron Landham. Collins and Wilkins met in Philadelphia in 2014, following their respective undergraduate jazz studies at Temple University and Manhattan School of Music. The two found a rare connection and shared interest in a wide spectrum of music from the Jazz cannon, from the music of Bud Powell to Erroll Garner, Miles Davis, Lee Konitz, Ornette Coleman and Bob Dorough. From that friendship, the two began performing in various venues in the greater Philadelphia area.

Photo by Jonathan Broady

 In 2019, Dan Wilkins and James Collins had the idea to form a band that would feature Dan’s original music. In order to realize their vision, they enlisted the help of legendary bassist Gene Perla, and the great Byron Landham on drums. Wilkins’ music, inspired by his other passion of oil painting, looks to capture distinct images, featuring journeying harmonic landscapes over meditative grooves. The name Horizons Quartet fit the vision of the music, looking forward and backward for depth and new avenues.