Music with a Message: Anno Domini on the Rise with Christian Music Movement

Nov. 10, 2004

Making the switch from a heavy metal headbanger to a blues/jazz stylist was part of a musical progression for guitarist Dan Davis, as was the leap of faith which created his new band, Anno Domini.
A salesman at Good News Music in downtown Traverse City for the past four years, Dan is a veteran of local bands in addition to being well known for his talents and expertise among many local musicians. As an axe man, he’s a shade faster than lightning -- his fingers move in a blur over the guitar fretboard, spinning out jazz scales and reams of notes faster than the eye can follow. On the “slow hand” side of things, he’s got a feel for the blues that pierces the heart of each note.
But it’s not just about the music for Davis. A year ago, he put together an informal band called Guitar Dan and Friends from musicians interested in the Christian music scene around town, including members of his own church, the Mt. Zion Family Worship Center. Since then, the band has evolved into Anno Domini, which includes Davis on guitar/vocals, Larry Hammond on drums, Doug Petitt on bass, Kristen Frank on keyboards/vocals and Dan Frank on guitar/vocals.
“Everyone in this group is a killer musician and I feel really blessed to be performing with them,” Davis says. He notes that in addition to performing their own songs as well as jazz or blues standards, the band plays faith-oriented tunes such as Bob Dylan’s “Got to Serve Somebody” and a version of “House of the Rising Son” overlaid with the lyrics of “Amazing Grace” in the style of the Blind Boys of Alabama.
“We’re definitely a Christian group, but we’re also heavy into jazz influences and blues,” he says. “And one way or another, some folk and rock always creeps in on what we’re playing.”
Born in Cheboygan, and raised in Traverse City, where he graduated from high school in 1984, Davis got started playing guitar at the age of 15.
“I wanted to be a football player but ended up with a stomach condition and couldn’t play,” he recalls. “A friend of mine had a guitar he wanted to sell for $50 and I begged my parents to buy it for me. Fortunately, they did.”
Jamming on highly technical metal by bands such as Metallica back in the late ‘80s gave Davis the kind of discipline and finger speed to perform jazz fusion in the style of Al DiMeola today. Back then, the first player he jammed with was Kenny Olson, now renowned as Kid Rock’s guitarist.
“I used to be nothing but a headbanger years ago, but when metal took a dive and grunge came in, there was kind of a musical paralysis and I started looking for a new way to go,” he recalls. “I used to be into really technical metal, the stuff that’s really intricate with time changes and fast breaks. So it wasn’t too much to change from playing that kind of metal to the intricate jazz stuff played by DiMeola.”
Connecting with kindred musical souls through his church was also a natural progression. It’s well known in the rock community that many top-flight performers retire to Sunday church sessions once youthful dreams of making it are tarnished by too many nights on the bar circuit.
What goes around comes around. For Davis and Anno Domini, making the transition from a worship group to performing on local stages is an energizing experience reflected in their music. Check them out in Traverse City this Saturday, Nov. 13 at Horizon Books at 8:30 p.m., and on Friday, Nov. 26 at Beaner’s coffeehouse across from Meijer’s. Both shows are free of charge.