Daniel Hunter (France)

With his debut album, The Twentieth, just released, Australian guitarist/composer Daniel Hunter, takes listeners on a musical voyage which reflects his own travels over the past 7 years. Featuring saxophonist Warren Walker (The Kandinsky effect), bassist Damien Varaillon (Nicolas Folmer Quartet), and drummer Nicolas Charlier (Thomas Encho Trio), the album includes compositions which recall his home town of Canberra, to the icy Swiss winter, and his current home of Paris.

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“The title track is a strong sax and guitar unison theme of vaguely bluesy origins with cheerful guitar fills ...These are highly interesting compositions interpreted impressively. FOUR STARS***                 John McBeath – The Australian

While the music incorporates the European aesthetic, it also preserves flavours that can only be identified as specific to the Australian jazz sound. Some influences are clearly present; John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, James Muller and Wanderlust. The pieces were all composed on the guitar, and consist of rich harmonic movement and bright melodies. They make the most of the strengths and natural features of the instrument, but are also written with the lyrical qualities of the tenor saxophone in mind.

Born in the UK in 1985, Daniel grew up in Canberra, Australia. After taking up the guitar at the age of 13, he soon developed an interest in improvisation. At 17 Daniel began a bachelor of music majoring in jazz performance at the Australian National University School of Music. Daniel graduated with honours in 2006 and continued to work as a teacher and performer in Canberra, playing a wide variety of styles in a diverse range of performance situations. Daniel left for Europe in late 2007, and found himself in Geneva where he decided to based himself for the next 4 years as a teacher, performer and composer.

In 2009 the Daniel Hunter Trio was formed with Swiss drummer Alain Reider, and French bassist Dominique Giezendanner. The trio gave regular performances of Daniel’s original music in Switzerland and France.

In 2011 Daniel made the move to Paris with the aim of further developing his original projects. As well has his soon to be released quartet album “The Twentieth”, Daniel’s current projects include the jazz duo Passiflora with vocalist An Liz, and Swing group the Don LaRue Combo. He has also appeared with Guillaume Perret, Melissa Cox, Chris Cody, Peta Gammie, Alex Stuart, the Paris Tap Crew, Roxanne Butterfly, Massimo Pinca and Liv Monaghan.

For his debut for Foundry616, Daniel Hunter Quartet will feature some of Sydney's finest jazz musicians.