About Daniel

Daniel McBrearty’s passion for music has as many guises as it does sources of inspiration. Influenced by jazz, blues, rock and soul, as well as traditional Celtic and other styles, Daniel’s explorations through the audible landscape are united by a singular quest for lyricism.

As a singer-songwriter he has a warm voice and an individual approach to finger-style guitar; his clarinet and saxophone playing show a concern for melody. His songwriting shows his admiration for the greats, from Gershwin to Bacharach to Paul Simon.

Beginning his career as a saxophonist and indy producer, Daniel made two independent releases, reflecting his broad curiosity : the jazz-funk debut "DanMcB" in 1996, and the Indian classical/fusion disc "The Udhav Shinde Trio", in 2004. He has also worked with respected musicians such as Carlos Hercules (drummer for Beverly Knight, George Michael, The Waterboys and others) and Joy Malcolm (Incognito and Moby).

In 2010, Daniel is busy on his first vocal album, "Claudia", a collection of twelve songs written during the last 20 years.

Biography

Born in Wales in 1964, Daniel began on clarinet and saxophone at 14. Discovering early jazz (notably Lester Young, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong), in his father's record collection, he began learning to improvise by studying these recordings. Basic lessons in music theory from his high school years, and lots of guidance and encouragement from local ex-military bandsman and teacher Jofre Swales, helped provide a foundation. By age 14, he was sitting in and getting a few gigs with local jazz and rock musicians.

Leaving home at 17 to become an RAF electronics technician, music took a back seat for a few years. But, by his late 20s, he had rekindled his passion, and years of renewed study and performance with groups of many genres followed. By now a freelance audio engineer, he became fascinated by the possibilities of home recording. Demo tapes, and later a debut CD, attracted attention from magazines and radio stations. By now, he was composing instrumental and vocal pieces regularly, and was often collaborating with singers to perform his songs.

By the late 1990s, Daniel was leading various groups as a saxophonist in and around London, but he found himself turning more to the guitar and songwriting in his spare time. Starting a family, then moving to Dublin in 2000 and Antwerp in 2001, he was soon performing on sax and clarinet in both cities.

In 2008, in response to a wish to get some of his original songs into the open, he began performing as a singer-songwriter, while still playing saxophone and clarinet. To help with the switch from instrumentalist to vocalist, he began studying formally with several voice teachers. He works constantly at obtaining a simple and direct vocal approach, modelled on his favourite singers, such as Nat Cole and James Taylor.

Encouraged by reactions, in 2010 he recorded his first vocal album, 'Claudia', which brings together his talents as composer, instrumentalist, singer and bandleader.

As well as composing and performing, Daniel gives private lessons on request, and has a growing interest in mentoring and teaching music.