Dan Wilkins

Dan Wilkins grew up in an artistic environment, learning at home from his father, pianist and composer Skip Wilkins. Dan loved to sing and play drums, and fell in love with the saxophone after hearing the ballads of Stan Getz and Dexter Gordon. Then at age 15, Wilkins attended a mind opening duo concert with David Liebman and Marc Copland at the Deer Head Inn. From there, lessons with David and Caris Liebman, Neil Wetzel and Mike Ledonne, set the stage for further education at the Manhattan School of Music (2013). During his stay at MSM, Wilkins studied jazz and classical music, with a diverse cast of masters, Steve Wilson, Rich Perry, Garry Dial, Phil Markowitz, John Riley, and Dr. Mark J. Stambaugh. Wilkins debut release, Jnana-Vijnana features six of his original compositions, crafted around a unique cast of young musicians. The writing draws from classical, jazz, and generationally relevant contexts to feature the voices of the ensemble and create three dimensional images. Featuring, Wilkins on tenor saxophone, Patrick McGee on soprano saxophone, Mike Bono and Vaughn Stoffey on guitars, Davey Lantz and Kevin Bernstein on piano and keyboards, Daryl Johns on bass, and Jimmy Macbride on drums.

Wilkins currently resides in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where he continues to perform and compose music and practice Massage Therapy.