Daniel Biro – Rhodes electric piano, flutes on ‘Aeolus’, harp on ‘Orpheus’
Jane Chapman – harpsichord on ‘Elegant Enigmas’
All music written by Daniel Biro except ‘Notturno o Mattutino’ by Nino Rota (published by C.A.M. srl) – arr. Daniel Biro Produced and recorded by Daniel Biro in 1998-99 Image by Daniel Biro Edited and remastered by Daniel Biro in 2020
‘Elegant Enigmas’ reflects my on-going passion for the Fender Rhodes electric piano. Designed in the forties by Harold Rhodes using airplane spare parts, and pioneered in the early 1970s by electric jazz artists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul (Miles Davis used to shock his acoustic pianists by saying: “play this!”) but also Ray Manzarek, Stevie Wonder, Donald Fagen, Bob James, etc. Nevertheless, the Fender Rhodes has rarely been explored in a solo, experimental context. Ambient artist Harold Budd is one notable exception.
My love for this instrument has led me to investigate its sonic qualities and, hopefully, reveal some hidden riches. Because of its inherent mechanical imperfections and unevenness, each Rhodes piano has its own idiosyncrasies and peculiarities. Rather than try to suppress these I preferred to go along and use them as a continuous source of surprises.
Original album released in 1999 This is the definitive version edited and remastered by Daniel Biro.