Bio
Darren Denman is a Brooklyn based pianist, organist, synthesist, composer, arranger, improviser, educator, and music director. Having grown up in the deserts of Las Vegas, Darren moved to New York City in 2008 to pursue a career in music.
His time spent in the city has lead to appearances on over 15 studio albums as well as countless gigs around the country at venues as prestigious as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Jazz Gallery, Webster Hall, The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, the legendary Tipitina’s in New Orleans, and SXSW in Austin, TX.
As a leader, Darren fronts two projects featuring his original works. The Darren Denman trio is an acoustic piano trio firmly in the acoustic jazz tradition of piano, bass, and drums while attempting to flip the genre on its head. His jam band, Thank You, Mother! is a three piece Hammond organ based trio with Guitar and Drums that explore the nooks and crannies of groove based improvisation.
As a side person, Darren has served many bands on a diverse array of keyboard instruments. Currently he serves as music director and organist for John The Martyr, synthesist for DW3K, pianist and organist for Tim Barnicle and the Brooklyn Flyers, Organist for Tom Clancey’s Rainbow 3, and has previously shared the stage with RVBY MY DEAR, Hegazy, Rachel Angel, Allison Philips and Friends, Up and Orange, Peter More, The Danielle Sheri Band, Sky Daddy, The Carnaby Girls, The Alpha Male Gorillas, The Mazzstock Allstars, and countless others.
Darren has served as an “Artist-at-Large” for the past several years at the Mazzstock Music Festival in Marlboro, NY.
He attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music where he studied with Lee Konitz, Vijay Iyer, Adam Holzman, Marc Copland, Jacob Sacks, Reggie Workman, Jane Ira Bloom, and Rachel Z.
Outside of original music Darren currently works as a pianist and organist for St. Teresa of Avila in Crown Heights and St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Prospect Heights where he has filmed hundreds of live Masses for Net TV. Previously he has served as choir director and organist for St. James the Less in Jamaica, Queens, as well as music director and organist for the San Damiano Mission in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.