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Living By Avoiding

With the help of his eight piece ensemble, dB-ish, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Darren Barrett proudly announces the August 22nd release of his highly-anticipated new album The Opener. Featuring special guest guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel and Nir Felder, The Opener brilliantly weaves acoustic instruments with synthesis, samples and soundscapes into the fabrics of modern jazz. “Sometimes we play open, sometimes we play structured and then sometimes we play over vamps.  What I really love is there is room for melodies, room for improvisation, room for the synthesis, room for samples and soundscapes,” says Barrett on his approach to his new project.  

dB-ish features several long time bandmates including Alexander Toth on bass, Anthony Toth on drums and Santiago Bosch on piano and keyboards. The album also includes respected saxophonists Clay Lyons and Erena Terakubo, percussionist Judith Barrett and dynamic keyboardist Chad Selph. Barrett is particularly honored to be joined by world-renowned guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel on aptly-titled track “The Opener” and Nir Felder on composition “To Conversate”.
“Kurt is simply brilliant. His abilities are endless. Nir Felder has a wondrous approach to playing music that was so perfect for this project.”

Multi-instrumentalist Darren Barrett has had an extraordinary career. He has performed and recorded with Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Common, Will.i.am, Myron Walden Momentum, D’Angelo and Antonio Hart. After winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for Trumpet in 1997, Barrett went on to release his first album First One Up in 1999 followed by Deelings in 2001, The Attack of Wren: Wrenaissance Volume 1 in 2004, and A Very Barrett Christmas in 2011.

He performed on the Grammy Award-winning Esperanza Spalding album, Radio Music Society in 2012 and in 2014 he released The Music of the Bee Gees (2014), with Energy in Motion and Live and Direct (2014), with dB Quintet. In 2015, Barrett released the reggae infused Trumpet Vibes and in 2016, he explored the work of the late Amy Winehouse on Trumpet Vibes: The Music of Amy Winehouse. He now leads dB Quintet, Energy In Motion, dB-ish, and dB Treyo and is a professor in the Ensemble Department at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston.  
The Opener is a departure from Barrett’s previous work as it explores his interest in electronic and experimental music more-so than any of his earlier projects. “I grew up with many different influences and always experimented in the electronic world so I am so happy to have finally realized a project utilizing all of these ingredients,” says Barrett. A prime example of this is the opening track, “The Opener”, which features Kurt Rosenwinkel and incorporates soundscapes, samples and drum machines synthesized with the acoustic instruments. Barrett considers this track to be “the heart of dB-ish”. Another standout is “Throughout” which turns the traditional jazz tune on its head with orchestrated electronics. The utilization of old synths like the Prophet 5 and Oberheim Xpander help to bring the track to life.

With The Opener Darren Barrett brings a fresh approach to the genre-bending world of experimental jazz and ushers in a new era of his already expansive career.

08 Full Tilt

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THE BREATH OF SERUM / demo one

Canadian Award winning trumpet player Darren Barrett was born to Jamaican parents. Darren remembers that, "the first time I heard Miles Davis was on the record 'Round About Midnight, and when I heard Miles' sound and approach, I knew that the instrument I wanted to play was the trumpet."
In 1986, Darren attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, receiving a BA in Professional Music in 1990. He went on to receive an MA in Jazz Performance in 1993, and an MS in Music Education from Queens College in 1995. It was there that he came under the influence of Dr. Donald Byrd, who became something of a father figure for the young trumpeter. My quest for a Doctorate degree was interrupted by a special program that was being developed, called the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, at the New England Conservatory of Music."  In 1997, Darren earned a Diploma in Jazz Performance from the Thelonious Monk Institute where he was a member of the inaugural class. In 1997, Darren entered and won 1st place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, the biggest jazz competition in the world, which highlights a different instrument each year. 
Darren went on to release his first album as a bandleader, First One Up in 1999, Deelings in 2001, Wrenaissance Volume 1 in 2004 and A Very Barrett Christmas in 2011. His upcoming release, Darren Barrett plays the music of the Bee Gees will be released in 2013. Darren has performed or recorded with Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Common, Esperanza Spaulding and Antonio Hart, among others. 
Darren is currently an Associate Professor in the ensembles and brass department at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachuttes. "I'm working on my craft, trying to be as professional and proficient as I can be. I'm just trying to reach people with my music, trying to concentrate on myself as a performer, bandleader and composer. I have many different bands but they all give me the musical platform to pursue anything possible. I want to continue exploring music and the trumpet by being open to the gamut of creativity, incorporating electronics into live shows, and realizing that one must have a great product and a great live show. These are my key principles".

08 Full Tilt

Darren Barrett dB

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