Darren Barrett

Biography
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Canadian trumpet player Darren Barrett was born to Jamaican parents. His father worked as an auto mechanic and his mother worked in a factory. Darren's dad was also a part-time musician who "pushed all his five children toward music," and there was always jazz, reggae, all kinds of music in the house. As a result, his three older brothers also became professional musicians.

Darren remembers that, "the first time I heard Miles Davis was on the record 'Round About Midnight, and when I heard Miles' sound and his approach, I knew that the instrument I wanted to play was the trumpet."

Two early teachers were particularly significant: in middle school, trumpeter Dan Moir, and in high school Ron Botnick, who had the band sounding like Maynard Ferguson. Besides Miles, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw, Darren cites Clifford Brown as a major influence, explaining, "Clifford, to me, was one of the great improvisers on the trumpet." After high school, Darren attended the Humber College Jazz program in Toronto, Canada, where he studied with Raynard Schmidt and Don Johnson, who were two of Toronto's great trumpet teachers. Darren spent a year at Humber College and in that year he won the Boddington's Music Brass Award for excellence in performance.

In 1986, Darren attended the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, receiving a BA in Professional Music in 1990. During his Berklee years, Darren's fellow students included Antonio Hart, Javon Jackson, Mark Turner, Roy Hargrove and Sam Newsome. In addition to his inspiring collaborators, the infamous Mass. Avenue club, Wally's, served as a proving ground, as well.

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.

In 1997, Darren earned a Diploma in Jazz Performance from the Thelonious Monk Institute where he was a member of the inaugural class. At the Monk program, he studied with Barry Harris, Wynton Marsalis, and Clark Terry, and got to perform with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. 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, followed by 'Deelings' in 2001. His newest project 'Wrenaissance Volume 1' was released in May 2004, incorporating R&B, Hip Hop, and world music highlighting his skills playing Nyle Steiner's creation, the EVI (Electronic valve instrument). Darren has performed or recorded with Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, Antonio Hart, among others.

Darren Barrett Energy in Motion: The Music of the Bee Gees

Read "The Music of the Bee Gees" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
August 1, 2014

Polyester suits, platform shoes and big hairstyles were in vogue during the 1970's when being cool meant looking the part in spite of the outlandish attire. The music was equally flamboyant and among the many bands, the Australia/ England based Bee Gees, brothers (Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb) produced a string of top hits at the height of the Disco era. Canadian jazz trumpeter Darren Barrett shakes the cobwebs off of a few of the group's oldies--but still goodies--in this ...

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Album Review

Myron Walden: Momentum

by John Kelman
November 23, 2009

Sometimes a break can be the best thing a musician can take. Not getting tired by any means, if a four-year sabbatical from recording as a leader results in as strong a comeback as reedman Myron Walden's, perhaps artists should take breaks more often. A charter member of drummer Brian Blade's Fellowship Band, Walden is back with not one, but three CDs over the next couple months. The first, Momentum, is a potent modern mainstream set that takes trumpet icon ...

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Album Review

Darren Barrett: Deelings

by Dave Nathan
July 1, 2001

Darren Barrett, winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1997, is emerging as a leader in the New Bop movement, a jazz form that combines elements of hard bop (there is lots of that here), fusion and modal music. His second album has a musical agenda of mostly original compositions mixed with two standards.

Barrett is a monster trumpet player. But here he is hindered, and sometimes defeated, by most of the material he has chosen to ...

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Album Review

Darren Barrett: Deelings

Read "Deelings" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
June 1, 2001

To play with two masters of their craft certainly says a lot. It is not surprising, however, that Darren Barrett is now a member of the Elvin Jones Jazz Explosion, where he helps extend the perimeter of the band, and also has his time playing for Jackie McLean. That they should consider him worthy enough to be with them speaks volumes for his credentials.

Barrett's has grown as a player since the time of his debut album. His technique is ...

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Album Review

Darren Barrett: Deelings

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 2001

This is the second J Curve release by trumpeter Darren Barrett, a relatively young firebrand who won the Thelonious Monk trumpet competition four years ago. As on the previous album ( First One Up ), what Barrett and his companions lay down sounds much like the Blue Note sessions from the ’50s and ’60s that featured such nimble–fingered players as Donald Byrd (who produced this album), Lee Morgan or Freddie Hubbard. Neo–bop? Call it what you will; there’s little doubt, ...

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Album Review

Darren Barrett: Deelings

Read "Deelings" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
May 1, 2001

We are products of our environment. Darren Barrett chooses his. Strong influences have helped shape the trumpeter's sound, and he seems determined to allow nothing to affect his choices unless it's at the very top of the form. Clifford Brown's legacy appears through two classic ballads. Barrett has refined his tone quality to the point where few can match the purity. The rest of the program consists of the leader's hard-driving originals. Barrett's hard-hitting, energetic approach recalls Freddie Hubbard in ...

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Album Review

Darren Barrett: First One Up

Read "First One Up" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
June 1, 1999

Winner of the 1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, trumpeter Darren Barrett picks up where many of today’s young cats start, at the alter of Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Kenny Dorham. That ain’t all bad. Barrett, a member of Jackie McLean’s working band, churns from the gitgo on this recording. Produced by Donald Byrd, this session is recorded much like a Criss Cross record, which is to say, a lot like those old Blue Note workouts. Kenny Garrett sits ...