Biography
Dee Byrne is a saxophonist, composer and improviser based in London. Since graduating from Trinity Laban in 2011, she has become an active figure in the UK creative scene and beyond, involved in various original jazz and improvising ensembles including Cath Roberts’ Favourite Animals, experimental acoustic/electronics duo Deemer, Manchester/Leeds group Now It Can Be Told and UK/Swiss ensemble Moonmot. She also plays in Brit Funk outfit Atmosfear, Amy Lives (with original members of Amy Winehouse band) and retro funk group Soul Immigrants.
Her own quintet Entropi released its second album ‘Moment Frozen’ in September 2017 on Whirlwind Recordings to critical acclaim (‘Intense, muscular jazz voyage.’ ★★★★ The Guardian). The album recording was supported by a PRSF Women Make Music grant in 2016. Entropi has successfully completed two Arts Council funded UK tours and performed at Manchester and Lancaster Jazz Festivals in 2016, London and Cambridge Jazz Festivals in 2017 and Marsden and Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival in 2018. Dee was featured in the ‘Taking Off’ section in the December/January 2018 edition of Jazzwise magazine.
Dee also co-runs LUME, a small artist-run organisation with a focus on the creation of new original/improvised music. Activities have included a double-bill tour in 2015, a monthly residency at The Vortex, two festivals and performances at EFG London Jazz Festival five years in a row from 2013-17. LUME’s offshoot record label Luminous releases projects by co-founders Dee and Cath Roberts.
NEWDee Byrne is a saxophonist, composer and improviser based in London with an interest in pushing the boundaries of conventional jazz harmony and structure. Dee collaborates with artists from the UK and Europe who occupy the area of contemporary jazz, avant-garde and free improvisation. Her vehicles for composition are her quintet Entropi, collaborative UK/Swiss sextet MoonMot and new project Outlines.
Dee’s other collaborations include electronics duo Deemer (Luminous), European quintet Ydivide, Cath Roberts’ ten piece ensemble Favourite Animals (Luminous), the London Improvisers Orchestra, Johnny Hunter's Large Ensemble and Brit Funk outfit Atmosfear. She has occasionally played with Paradox Ensemble (22a records) and Beats & Pieces Big Band (efpi records) and in recent years has embarked on a solo project exploring the saxophone and electronics.
Since 2013 Dee has co-run projects with Cath Roberts under the name LUME, with a focus on new original/improvised music. Activities have included concert series, festivals and tours.
Awards
2018 ACE Developing Your Creative Practice grant
2016 PRSF Women Make Music Artist
Selected Discography
2020 Atmosfear – DIOS 2020
2019 Soul Immigrants – Back From The Brink
2017 Entropi – Moment Frozen
2017 Favourite Animals
2016 Deemer – Live At The Vortex
2015 Saxoctopus
2015 Entropi – New Era
2015 Deemer - Interference Patterns
2013 Soul Immigrants – The Hustle Is On
2011 Xantoné Blacq – Revelation