He worked with Hans Koller, Albert Mangelsdorff, Volker Kriegel and Ack van Rooyen and composed for radio, television, and film.

As the leader of his trio, he recorded for the first time in 1964, an early session in the history of European free jazz.

[3][4] It was a collaboration of trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, trumpeter Ack van Rooyen, sax player Charlie Mariano, bassist Eberhard Weber and guitarist Volker Kriegel.

[3][1] Dauner received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in 2016 the Echo for his life's work.

[1] The same year, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, he was awarded a special prize of the 2016 Jazzpreis Baden-Württemberg, as one of the most versatile jazz pianists and keyboarders ("einer der vielseitigsten Jazzpianisten und -keyboarder unserer Zeit") which included a concert in Stuttgart.