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