“On Swan Song, producer and composer Daniel Diaz plays acoustic and electric basses, guitars and pianos, vibes, hang, harmonium, percussion, accordina, charango, ukulele, and synths, along with 15 guest musicians from four continents, to depict a world uniquely his own. It is a culmination of his many talents, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail in every respect.
Though this album is the capstone of a trilogy, preceded by The Years Alone (1995, Green Linnet/Xenophile) and Segundo Ciclo (2002, Timeless Records), it lives by its own manifesto. It’s a peaceful one, whose tenets are best expressed in the five “bonus” tracks that end the album, and which reveal equally personal facets of an artist who speaks of his love for travel through tunes like “Palermo” and “New York Polonaise,” taking listeners through a veritable flipbook of his experience with a humility that can only come from a worldly soul.”
– Tyran Grillo, Rootsworld september 2016
“Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer, Daniel Diaz, releases a new album, Swan Song, which is an instrumental gem that includes sixteen tracks and a total running length of nearly seventy-eight minutes long. The Argentinean-native brings together South American nuances, jazz melodies, new age arrangements, and laid-back, cinematic compositions for a truly world music recording…
…Swan Song, may be a cliché, but that is where the fun begins. Throughout the sixteen tracks, Daniel brings out rousing rhythms, evocative melodies, a slew of instruments and guests, and a frolic through jazz, neo-classical, roots, new age, and avant-garde music. The result is a fusion of sorts that mainly experiments with the instrumental side of things with a few radio voices added in one track. Listeners should expect an album of surprises, as this is not a traditional album, vocal album, or rock album. It is an almost indescribable melding of South American and Mayan elements for today’s listeners.”
– Matthew Forss, November 2015 Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
“Daniel Díaz is Argentinean. Listen to his debut recording ‘The Years Alone’ and you will hear the rhythms of the zamba and the chacarera. You will also hear how the musical heritage has been informed by the composer’s absorption of the “outside” influences, particularly the jazz, rock, and music synthesis technology of North America. This is a new music, shaped by the irresistible influence Argentina has on her children, and by the perspective and know-how of its creator, Daniel Díaz.
‘The Years Alone’ has the self-assured, unassuming character of a natural merging of past and present. The 11 selections are his own compositions, based in spirit and rhythm on the folklore of his land, and feature his expressive and melodic bass playing and abilities as multi instrumentalist. Díaz’s studies of jazz and classical idioms and affinity for contemporary harmony and technology are evident throughout, and put an unique stamp on his particular expression of the argentine soul.
A synthesized orchestral section may serve equally well beneath a modern bass and keyboard unison melody, or as an accompaniment to the haunting , melancholic bandoneon. Drum machine co-exists with bombo leguero (the skin-covered drum that is the heart beat of Argentinean traditional music).
Diaz is joined by a variety of South American players contributing their own musical voices on instruments both native and foreign to Argentina, including bandoneon, saxophones, quena and tabla.
The result is a music that is unmistakably infused with the argentine soul, and equally blessed with the spirit of its composer”
– Dan Greenspan, Boston, 1995
“Au décours d’une carrière discographique de plus de vingt cinq ans, Daniel DIAZ nous propose « SWAN SONG » (DeDeLand Music), le troisième volet d’une trilogie entamée en 1995. La parution est annoncée pour le 05 février 2016. Il a compilé des compositions écrites sur une longue période, dans des lieux différents et des styles variés.
Le titre annonce clairement qu’il s’agit du dernier opus physique de l’artiste qui fait le choix dorénavant de se consacrer uniquement à la musique à l’image, à la musique de film, à des sorties numériques de ses compositions et à ses performances de soliste.
Ce compositeur, arrangeur vit en France. Il s’est promené dans tous les styles. Du tango à la fusion world-jazz il a joué avec les plus grands de toutes les disciplines. Dans cet album la technicité est au service de la beauté et de la simplicité. Les mélodies sensibles et les rythmiques multiples évoquent des paysages, des images. et voilà bien ce que l’artiste souhaite générer”.
– Blog Latins de Jazz. Nicole & Bernard VIDEMANN – Jan 2016
“..there seems to be no limits to his talents: composing, arranging, and playing bass, synths, drums, and guitar. There are some sparkling moments on his albums, some new ideas, and some glimmers of real depth. Every song has a moment of brightness….”
– Cliff Furnald, Roots World, New Heaven, USA.
“The performance and composition on the album are undeniably impressive. Using seven different basses (upright, acoustics, and electrics), Diaz achieves many different sounds and tones from his instruments. Perhaps the most impressive performances are the unaccompanied solo bass tracks like “Zamba Desilucion” and “Farewell.” Diaz’s bow work on “Abstract #2” is rhythmically driving, very exciting, and seems to draw on the glissando playing used so lovingly by composers such as Piazzolla. Low’s compositions lean on the contemporary and modern “classical” side. Many of the pieces are consistently thematic, which allows the listener to experience the compositions, rather than feeling like they are just sitting through a bass tour de force (although it is in fact a bass tour de force!). The entire album is strongly melodic and contrapuntal, and with the (enjoyable) exceptions of the improvised and abstract pieces, the compositions are very directional.”
– Silas Durocher, Saturday, May 03, 2008
“Sensual, Sweet, Somber, sad, sensational, sexy, night, fog, rain, clouds, clear skies, brillant stars, moon glow….are there any other words to describe this emotive music based on non traditional structures and forms? Let me just feel this music: something different again.”
– April/May 1996 KVMR Program Guide, USA.
“Inspirándose en los ritmos de su natal argentina, Díaz compone sus propios temas a los cuales les agrega una fuerte dosis de estructuras musicales tomadas del jazz, rock y música clásica. Son de destacar sus temas Moboro, La China y El Matador y Lluvias Costeras.”
– La Prensa de LOS ÁNGELES, Julio 1996
Für Liebhaber der träumerischen jazzvariante empfiehlt sich die CD des argentiniers Daniel Diaz…Sie bilden keinen Zusatz im Ensemble, sondern vervollkommnen und bereichern -auch in der Abminschung- den Gesamtklang. Eine interesante Ergansung inder CD-Samlung!
– Carola Faber, Jazz Podium Magazine, Germany
Les 2 Amériques parisiennes réunies autour d’un répertoire du cône sud, avec 3 gaillards de bonne stature : Daniel Diaz, bassiste et compositeur, vient d’Argentine, tout comme Javier Estrella, percu tous terrains. Bobby Rangell, lui, vient de l’autre Amérique, celle du nord, son sax et sa flûte sont familiers à toute la galaxie latino-parisienne. Ensemble, ils esquissent les contours d’un univers où tango argentin, candombé uruguayen et autres genres d’Amérique latine font bon ménage avec un jazz qu’ils pimentent à souhait. Hardi chemin de traverse.
– NOVA magazine, Paris France
Amazon Reviews
Multi-talented tour de force Rating: *****
A brilliant ‘sleeper’; hypnotic.
I don’t usually go for these 1-bloke-plays-everything dazzlers but Diaz has mastery of all his instruments – guitar, basses (fretless and harmonic), drums, keyboards, melodica – the lot.
Eleven superbly crafted tracks that will inspire other instrumentalists and wow those in need of a satisfying listen.
Superb production values (Mr Diaz again, yet another talented string to his polymath bow) and a worthy tribute to DD’s dedicatees, among them Miles and Piazzolla.
Cop a listen, and have credit card details ready to order. We need more like this.
Reviewer: Chris Holmes “busker” (Bainbridge Island, WA USA)
