Wolfgang Dauner
b. 30 December 1935, Stuttgart, Germany. Brought up by his aunt, a piano teacher, Dauner has been playing piano since the age of five. He turned professional at the age of 22, then studied piano and trumpet at Stuttgart College of Music. In 1963 he formed a trio with bassist Eberhard Weber and forceful American drummer Fred Braceful. On-stage destruction of instruments and stunts like presenting a choir in stocking masks ran a musical parallel to the neo-dada of artists like Joseph Beauys. In 1967 he recorded FREE ACTION and SUNDAY WALK, both with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty: the first is free jazz, the second dense, John Coltrane-ish bop. Since 1969 Dauner has led the Stuttgart Radio jazz group, backing guests on a monthly basis. ECM Records released a trio recording called OUTPUT in 1970: Dauner's use of ringmodulator and clavinet was extravagantly creative, a combination of chaos and funk reminiscent of the Mothers Of Invention. Dauner founded the United Jazz And Rock Ensemble in 1975 and also started a record company, Mood. In 1983 he recorded a duet album with Albert Mangelsdorff and two years later wrote a concerto for him. Dauner combines superb pianistic ability with an interest in electronics and modern painting that keeps his projects fresh and lively.