Sophie Dunér is a singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and visual artist from Sweden who has lived and performed in the United States and Spain. Originally a jazz singer, her writing and performing have evolved into a unique style of wild, risky, passionate and exhilarating music for vocals and string quartet, uniquely her own. She has rendered pristine arrangements, stylistically a fusion between jazz and classical idioms.
Active on the New York free jazz scene since the 60s, bass player Dominic Duval swiftly established a high reputation among his peers. In the late 90s, owing to several well-received albums, his name had become much better known to international audiences.
Notably, he has worked with Cecil Taylor and Joe McPhee. Other collaborations include pianist Matthew Goodheart, Mark Whitecage and Adam Makowicz; drummers John Heward and Jay Rosen, the latter being a particular favorite collaborator of Duval’s; saxophonists Ivo Perelman, Glenn Spearman, Jimmy Haleperin and James Finn; violinist Jason Hwang and the Amici String Quartet. He performed with the semi-classical group, the Manhattan Improvisers Chamber Ensemble, which included Rosen, Dom Minasi (guitar), Eleanor Amlin (vocals), John Gunther (reeds) and Rod Thomas (violin).