Darryl Alexander Sr.

Chances are that if you have listened to Saturday Night Live (NBC), Good Morning America (ABC), The Weather Channel, E Entertainment, Lifetime, Fox Business, Maury Povich, or flown on Continental, Airtran, Frontier, or Jetblue that you have heard music by jazz artist/producer/composer Darryl Alexander Sr. Years ago, Darryl had sent a CD of 10 songs to DSM Producers CEO Suzan Bader. Her company is administered Worldwide by Warner Chappell. Darryl had not heard from DSM for a while, and was unaware that DSM had just moved to a new suite to a larger office complex in New York. A box of CD's had been left by the moving company. The new tenant saw them and carried them to DSM's new suite. Ironically, Darryl's CD was at the top of the stack and Ms. Bader promptly gave it a listen. Within a matter of 2 days, she contacted Darryl and an offer was made to publish these original 10 songs, with Warner publishing them internationally. This one small thing has probably been the greatest asset in my musical career, says Darryl, and is a door that without God's intervention would not be open.

Darryl’s soon to be released new recording, Transitions, “features 11 energetic and exciting new songs that are a melting pot of jazz, funk, r&b, hip hop, samba, and rock and feature performances by some of the best in jazz today. The first track, “On E. Street,” is a favorite of DJ Funky (Jeff Fuller) and certainly will get you on the dance floor. “Hey Senorita” is lyrical modern samba with great interplay between sax (Kenny Blake), piano (Brett Williams), and guitar (Ken Karsh). “Think about It” ventures into hip hop territory, and “No Turning Back” features funky guitar and soulful sax. Blake, Williams, Karsh, along with Fred Ervin, Wilber Krebs, Pete Tokar, John Madgett, and Joe Graziosi provide inspired accompaniment to each song.

Very interesting is the fact that during his college years (Kent State University) the first band that Darryl was a part of (Love, Life, and Light) featured In Living Color comedian AJ Jamal on keyboards and renown poet and KSU professor Mwatabu Okantah on percussion and lead vocals. Kent was the launching ground during this time for many of today’s renown performers, such as Steve Harvey and Arsenio Hall. During these years Darryl, along with Herb McMullen and John Madgett formed a musical partnership and lasting friendships that endure to this day.

Darryl’s first two recordings (Coast To Coast and 17th Street) were on the Prestige Jazz label. Throughout the years industry media (Jazzreview.com, Ebony Magazine, The Urban Network, BRE) have provided excellent reviews of some of Darryl’s other recordings (Tea for Two, Diamond In The Sky, This Way).

Darryl's other life passion is reflected in his work with inner city at risk youth, as well as serving as a federal grant reviewer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

Gear

Yamaha Drums, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals, Kurzweil SP88 Keyboard Controller, Yamaha Motif, Alesis QSR Proteus 2000, Roland JV 880, Ensoniq SQR, Akai MPC 2000 Roland VS 2480, Mackie Mixing Board, Sonar DAW, Variety of LP Percussion, Event Monitors, AKG, CAD

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April 20, 2014

Darryl Alexander Sr Hits Up The Burgh With "Transitions"

July 15, 2008

"This Way" Triumph and Tragedy Behind Darryl Alexander's New CD

Review: DARRYL ALEXANDER SR.: TRANSITIONS 09/02/2014 If you already looked to American tv channels and programs as Saturday Night Live (NBC), Good Morning America (ABC), The Weather Channel, E Entertainment, Lifetime, Fox Business or Maury Povich views, or if you have flown with Continental, Airtran, Frontier and Jetblue, then chances are you heard music coming from the African American Darryl Alexander. During his college years was Darryl already in the band Love, Life, and Light. He gets on his new cd collaboration of Kenny Blake, Ken Karsh, Brett Williams, Pete Tokar, Wilber Krebs, Fred Ervin, Joe Graziosi, John Madgett, and Brandon Howard. “What I enjoy working with this group is there is a light heartedness in their soul, and it comes out in their performances,” said Darryl. “I remember Kenny Blake saying one day in the studio that EMS personnel see some pretty horrific things every day. As artists we have an opportunity to make someone's day just a little bit lighter, little bit easier, even if just for a moment. “ Darryl all 11 songs composed itself, and plays drums, percussion, organ and keyboards. Opener ' On e. Street ' is a cheerful and fun number, after which ' No Turning Back ' is a little more funky. ' Never Alone ', on the other hand, is very “laidback”, followed by the Nice samba ' Hey Senorita '. “Too Late For Love ' is more the smooth jazz, and the ballad” If Only You Knew ' is ideal for romantic dancing. It is very relaxed with ' Cruzin', after which the “feel good” song ' When Little Birds Fly ' coming. ' Remembering You ' is back nice smooth jazz, but valve ' who's Watching Who comes ' funkier about. A soulful smooth jazz cd, which gives you a good feeling. Ideal to relax.

Patrick Van De Wiele

A soulful album that gives you a good feeling. Ideal for relaxing.

www.Keysandchords.com

Review: The Smooth Jazz Ride

Apr. 14, 2014 With his latest release Transitions, drummer/keyboardist/composer Darryl Alexander Sr. continues his tradition of putting together very soulful and jazzy collages of musical grooves that spell f-e-e-l-g-o-o-d all the way through his releases. Alive with color, poise, and sophistication, Transitions finds Alexander assembling a strong corps of musicians to help get this project headed for the stars. With saxophonists Kenny Blake and Joe Graziosi on separate tracks (except on a track called “Think About It” where they appear together); guitarist Ken Karsh, bassists Wilbur Krebs and Fred Ervin on separate tracks, and Pete Tokar and Brett Williams on Rhodes and piano on separate tracks, this smells and sounds like success to this writer for sure.

All of these fine tracks were written by Alexander and include one from his earlier Diamond in the Sky release (the version here has more kick than the more laid-back earlier version). Packed to the hilt with style and charm, the tracks here are meant for either dancing dreamily and cheek to cheek with that special someone (“If Only You Knew” is one good example) or for getting your groove fired up on the dance floor (e.g., the lead track “On E. Street”). Then, there are tracks that are just meant to place you in that mellow place where your imagination can take you to any exotic beach or weekend getaway haven in the world. Such a track might be the gently flowing and appropriately titled “Cruizin’.”

The musicianship is flawless here, from the tickling of the ivories to the delicate and cool guitar runs to the seductive call and caress of the sax. You can sense how comfortably each musician interacted with the others. The right musicians + the right material = One well-oiled production here – Ronald Jackson

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