Daniel Biro

Daniel Biro (born 1963 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a London-based keyboard player, composer, sound-designer and producer. His music draws upon diverse roots in jazz, rock, minimalist, and electronic music. As an improvisor, Biro specializes in exploring the sonic depths of the Rhodes piano, with which he performs regularly.

Early life and education

Born in Johannesburg (South Africa), Biro spent his early years in Rome (Italy), London (UK), Milan (Italy) and Menton (France) where lived until the age of 22. He studied for 8 years at the Jazz Conservatory of Monaco under the direction of Roger Grosjean and, after completing a Literary Baccalauréat, three years at Nice University in France. He moved to London in 1985 where he's lived ever since.

Music

In the 1980s and 90s, Biro formed pop-rock bands such as the electro outfit IC and L'Orange with French vocalist songwriter Véronique Joly. He also toured worldwide as a keyboard player with Dennis Greaves' The Truth and EMI-signed Big Bam Boo. He has also been very much involved with contemporary dance, notably with choreographer Jane Turner with whom he has developed new real-time interactive dancers/musicians technologies based on Emergence Theory, where simple patterns generate complex results.

In 1993, Biro founded Sargasso Records to promote contemporary experimental music. Artists on the label include the late Jonathan Harvey, Lawrence Casserley, Violeta Dinescu, John McGuire, Simon Emmerson, John Palmer and more

He plays and records with his jazz/psychedelic band Mysteries of the Revolution formed together with multi-instrumentalist Peter BB Davis as well as the ambient/jazz/electronic/improv Echo Engine with guitarist Rob Palmer, sound-designer Adrian Newton together with collaborations with guest artists such as saxophonist/flautist Theo Travis.

As a singer-songwriter he has released the album 'Songs of Refuge' (Sargasso).

He is not the Daniel Biro from Hawk Nelson.

Film

He has written numerous soundtracks for TV documentaries by French director Olivier Sarrazin, experimental shorts and, in 2014, the award-winning 'Things of the Aimless Wanderer' by Rwandan director Kivu Ruhorahoza. The film was part of the official selection at the Sundance, Rotterdam, Durban, Sydney and London Film Africa festivals in 2015. Biro has also made many videos and short films himself, often to accompany his music.

Selected works

Performed Compositions:

  • Shir Hadash (2009) for 5 male voices, electric piano and electronics
  • A Thin, Still Sound (2008) for bass clarinet and live electronics
  • e-Merge (2004) for 5 voices and e-Merge computer system
  • Black Fire On White Fire (2003) for amplified calligraphy, voice, 7 clarinets and electronics
  • Re-sound (2000) for electric piano and tape
  • Elegant Enigmas (1999) for harpsichord and electric piano
  • Slow, Flow, Blow (1998) for 7 clarinets
  • The Comparative Anatomy of Angels (1996) for 3 voices and tape
  • Beba in White (1995) for 3 electric guitars and tape
  • With These Gloves You Will Enter Mirrors Like Water (1995) for voice, string 4tet and synthesizer

For Contemporary Dance Performances:

  • e-Merge
  • Hybrid
  • Desert
  • Beauty And The Beast
  • Soho Square
  • A Still Point Of The Turning World

For Theatre:

  • Membres Only
  • HalfLife
  • Dead Man's Coat
  • Pedalo
  • W.C.
  • Firelines
  • No Strings Attached
  • The Woman Downstairs
  • Horace
  • 3 Plays by Yeats

For Film:

  • Things of the Aimless Wanderer
  • Poolside
  • The Incandescence Of One Man's Journey To Remain A Solid Object
  • Carey Jones Architects
  • 4014
  • Book of Dust
  • Lessons in How to Wear Red
  • Wrap Me In Film
  • Death Leap
  • Viva Il Reggimento

For Television:

  • Carrément Cornichon (French TV) 2012
  • Rêves De Sable (French TV) 2011
  • Bioattitude Sans Béatitude (French TV) 2008
  • Parce Que Vous Ne Valez Rien (French TV) 2007
  • Sous La Barbe De St Nicholas (French TV) 2006
  • In 2 Minds (BBC) 2003

As Film Director:

  • Poolside – (2010)
  • The Pinocchio Files – (2010)
  • In Light (2009)
  • O2:2:CO2 (Day, Night, People, River) – (2009)
  • The Incandescence Of One Man's Journey To Remain A Solid Object – (2008)
  • Carey Jones Architects – (2007)

Discography
  • Still (2020) – with Colin Bass
  • I'll Be Here (with Echo Engine) (2019) – Blue Serene Focus BSF1001/13
  • 120 onetwenty (2018) – Sargasso SCDB54001
  • Things of the Aimless Wanderer (Film Soundtrack) (2015) – Sargass0 28080
  • Windjammer (with Echo Engine) (2014) – Blue Serene Focus BSF1001/12
  • You Turn Me On EP (with Mysteries Of The Revolution) (2014) – Blue Serene Focus BSF1001/11
  • Shir Hadash – Sargasso SCD28076
  • Songs Of Refuge (2012) – Sargasso SCD28069
  • A Still, Thin Sound (2009) – Sargasso SCD28063
  • Mysteries Of The Revolution (2007) – Blue Serene Focus BSF1001/10
  • The Long Journey Home (with Rob Palmer) (2004) – Sargasso SCD28050
  • 2 People In A Room (with L'Orange) (2002) – Sargasso SSD39011
  • Elegant Enigmas (1999) – Sargasso SCD28028
  • The Comparative Anatomy Of Angels (1996) – Sargasso SCD28022
  • Soho Square (1993) – Sargasso SCD28021
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