Nad Navillus

Nad Navillus is the music of Dan Sullivan. Sullivan, a Chicago resident since 1997, is a guitar player of diverse interests and influences. On the debut Nad Navillus (ProShop 005), he moves from the extended melody of Steve Lacy's "Prospectus" into a Fahey-esque fingerstyle improv. On "Si Lu Tuo Ling (Journey Through the Silk Road)" Sullivan adapts a Chinese Da Zran (moon Lute) composition for guitar. Later on the CD (joined by brother Rob Sullivan on bass and Suzanne Roberts on violin) Sullivan directs the group through structured improvisations and minimalist soundscapes. The CD also features several of Sullivan's compositions for solo guitar, exhibiting an ear for lyricism, delicate tensions and abstracted resolutions.

Sullivan stays busy: in addition to Nad Navillus, the last two years have found him accompanying Jason Molina as a member of Songs: Ohia on European and U.S. tours playing guitar. He also helped arrange (as a member of the Butcher Shop Quartet) Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for two guitars, bass and drums, a project that received a grant from Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs. He has also put out the layered indie-rock debut of A-Z Consolidated (again with brother Rob, Suzanne Roberts, and drummer Bill Murphy) on the ProShop label, as well as a straight bluegrass CD, Skeeter Pete and the Sullivan Mt. Boys (this time joined by brother Andy Sullivan).

Nad Navillus continues to evolve. New material incorporates vocals and more conventional song structures over guitar parts that blur the line between minimalism and bossa nova, fingerstyle and free jazz. Some of this material was debuted opening for Songs: Ohia on tour, as well as a recording session at Holland's prestigious VPRO public radio. Recently returned from a week of shows in Ireland opening for Glen Hansard of the Frames, Sullivan is busy recording a full-length release to be put out by Jagjaguwar.