Artist description Mark is an innovative Composer/Performer/Multi-Instrumentalist who specializes in creating interesting hybrids. He has developed his own unique voice on both Guitar and an instrument he invented called a 'PIANTAR' (which involves playing both the guitar and piano simultaneously).He is also working hard at finding his own instrumental identity on Piano and fretless Bass aswell as working on certain conceptual ideas that involve an intense use of technology and improvisation.ˇ

Music Style Ambicoustic

Musical Influences Absolutely Everything

Similar Artists Micheal Hedges, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Keith Jarrett, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois

Artist History - Began playing piano at age 5 and Guitar/Bass at age 14 after being inspired by Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix - Attended the Levantine School of Music to study Classical/Rock Guitar aswell as Piano, Saxophone, theory, and ensemble work.- Studied Opera with Dr.Lynn Harry - Attended Humber College in Toronto to study Jazz - Left Humber after 1 year to begin composing. - Entered the music business at age 20 as a composer of media music. - Opened up his own Media production studio called Millennium Studios which featured his own Composing and Performing skills. - Began a 2 and 1/2 year run working for award winning music software company PG Music (Band in the Box, etc.) - Invented the Piantar in 1993. - Closed Millennium Studios to pursue the Piantar and hi s own original music. - Introduced the Piantar at the 1994 NAMM show while working for PG Music - Released a debut recording called 'Piantarist' and Video of the song 'Russian Dolls' which garnered some decent press coverage on Much Music, CBC Radio, Key board Magazine etc. - Acquired a disabilitating performance related injury to his shoulders in mid 94 which left him unable to play music for 2 years. - Began playing guitar again in 96 after being encouraged to do so by two close friends (one had to lend him a guitar). - Began playing Piantar once again in 98 after his wife suggested a new approach. - Started performing again publicly on guitar in 98. - Recorded and Released a CD called 'The Light of Day', April 2000. The CD primarily features Mark's unique guitar playing, however it also re-introduces the 'Piantar' on the track 'Russian Dolls' and the title track 'The Light of Day'. As an added bonus the CD features an example of Mark's particular brand of free piano music on the song 'Leaves'.ˇ

Group Members Mark Daum

Instruments Guitar/Piantar/Piano/Bass/Voice/Studio

Albums The Light of Day

Press Reviews One spin through Daum's debut CD, The Light Of Day, underscores the fact this man has some bold ideas about music and it's forgotten boundlessness... The Piantar is an extension of that thinking...The guitar half of the instrument is played with the left hand, while the right hand taps out a chord melody combination. Chewing gum at the same time is not recommended.Describing Daum's music is a challenge, and 'not pop' would be closest. There are elements of New Age open spaces, and Daum is quite obviously accomplished at the keyboards.Glen Nott. The Hamilton Spectator "Light of Day", a new release by Dundas writer and performer Mark Daum, proves as good as the title... I should mention that the majority of the music is created on the guitar, not the piantar. When you consider this, the fingers must be lightning fast to imagine and produce such sounds... The cd has a very rich and full feel to it. Care and attention to the recording has made it so you can't hear the strings being plucked... The sound, for me, reminds me of early Anthony Phillips of Genesis, Steve Hacket, also of Genesis and some jazz guitar players, William Ackerman, Ralph Towner and Steve Tibbetts. The music rolls off of the strings, with cascading chords and bottom sounds that reverberate in your soul. The piantar sound on "Russian Dolls" is very unique and has the duo feel to it but with a melting of the two instruments that makes them even closer... The title track, "The Light of Day" shows clearly the direction and capabilities of this instrument. With washes of sound flooding over you and the environment Mr. Daum can create, I found this piece truely inspiring. Like Brian Eno before him and Glenn Gould, and other's to-day, Mr. Mark Daum feels that the studio is another instrume nt to be used to fill in colour and light and shading. This disc reflects this quite well and it would again be wonderful to hear more instruments with this magical and ancient sound... I thoroughly enjoy this disc, and in the car on a hot summer day, c ruising along, turned up full, this music is like drifting on a cloud....it is one thing to listen to Mark but quite another to see him play live.George Sanford. CFMU & 701.com›

Location Dundas, Ontario - Canada

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