Darden Purcell: News

I have just been asked to perform "Ne Me Quitte Pas" by Jacques Brel for the "Beyond Cool" Concert on August 29th at the Allerton Music Barn Festival! I will be joining UIUC faculty members including Chip McNeill on alto saxophone, Glenn Wilson on baritone saxophone, Tito Carrillo on trumpet, Kaz Machala on horn, Jim Pugh on trombone, Karl Kramer on tuba, Chip Stephens on piano and Larry Gray on bass, and Dana Hall on drums. For more details, see www.allertonmusicbarn.com.

Shawn and I were just interviewed for a feature article in the News-Gazette. This feature will run this Sunday, July 20th! Written by wonderful Melissa Merli...check it out if you can!

The C-U Jazz Crusaders headline shows at Indianpolis's Jazz Kitchen on June 6th and Cincinnati's Blue Wisp on June 7th.
The Jazz Kitchen www.thejazzkitchen.com is Indianapolis's premiere jazz club and features the best of local, regional and national jazz artists along with a full menu of unique and diverse culinary offerings.
The Blue Wisp www.thebluewispjazzclub.com is downtown Cincinnati's premeire jazz club!

The C-U Jazz Crusaders played the Jazz Kitchen on February 8, 2008! The Jazz Kitchen is Indianapolis' premeire jazz club and restaurant.

February 7th, I performed at the "Krannert Uncorked" wine tasting concert series at the Krannert Performing Arts Center. My band was Chip McNeill (piano), Chris Nolte (bass) and Josh Hunt (drums.) Enjoy the pictures!

Trombonist Dave Dickey has asked me to join his group "The C-U Jazz Crusaders." C-U Jazz Crusaders is a jazz ensemble in Champaign/Urbana playing music from the original group "The Jazz Crusaders" / "The Crusaders". C-U Jazz Crusaders performs music which was recorded by the Jazz Crusaders between early 1960s to the present day (jazz, rock, blues, and Latin jazz). I am super excited to be in this group with such fine players. Make sure to check out our myspace page at www.myspace.com/cujazzcrusaders for upcoming gigs!

I have added some pictures of the great players I have been fortunate enough to work with in Champaign-Urbana over the past few months! Enjoy!

By The News-Gazette...

Two jazz vocalists, Lisanne Lyons and her former student Darden Purcell will reunite Thursday evening as guest vocalists of the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band in concert at the Krannert Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $4 for students. Pick up a weekend edition copy of the News-Gazette for more information on Lisanne Lyons and our upcoming concert!

I am thrilled to be singing with my former teacher and dear friend, Lisanne! Hope to see you there!

I have been asked to join "Weapons of Mass DisFunktion," a fusion/jazz/funk ensemble from Champaign, IL. Other members of the band are Dave Dickey, Marcus Wolfe, Holly Holmes, George Turner, Josh Walden, Chris Reyman and Josh Hunt. The band performs original music, plus the music of Soulive, Weather Report, John Scofield, Medeski Martn and Wood, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, John Coltrane, Darren Kramer, Russell Gunn, Rufus/Chaka Khan, Joni Mitchell, and others. Check out www.myspace.com/weaponsofmassdisfunktion for upcoming gigs!

Well, it is finally here! I will be moving to Champaign, IL on August 1st to pursue my Masters in Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana beginning Fall 2007. I am really looking forward to working with all the amazing faculty at UIUC to include Chip McNeill, Jimmy Pugh and many others! More information about the music school can be found on their website www.music.uiuc.edu. Living and working in Nashville has been wonderful and I am so thankful for all the amazing friends and colleagues I have made!

Today was my Nashville Public Radio "Live in Studio C" debut! We had a great time and Will Griffin is wonderful! They will be rebroadcasting this show tonight at 8:00pm CT or you can go to www.wpln.org/liveinstudioc for the next week to check it out. I have also added some pictures to the photos page! Enjoy!

Nashville Public Television and the Nashville Jazz Workshop join forces for a joint fundraiser Friday, June 1 at 8 pm at the Jazz Workshop. Wine and cheese will be provided along with fabulous entertainment, door prizes, raffles, and much more! Special guest artists will be The Lori Mechem Trio and 3rd Coast Vocals. Joining Lori will be Roger Spencer on bass and Jim White on drums. 3rd Coast vocals includes Darden Purcell, Christina Watson, Mark Stephens, and Jeff Hall. Advance tickets on sale May 7. Go to www.nashvillejazz.org for more information!

Today marks a truly sad day in U.S. History. I am deeply saddened at the tragic loss of life at my alma mater, Virginia Tech. My thoughts and prayers are with the victim's families and those who have suffered during this tragedy. You will not be forgotten. In the words of poet Nikki Giovanni, We will prevail! We will prevail! We ARE Virginia Tech!

I have just found out that I will perform on "Live in Studio C" on WPLN (Nashville Public Radio) on June 26th at 11:06 a.m. Stay tuned for musician line-up and more details!



Nashville Public Radio brings you live music on the radio every Tuesday morning at 11:06. Each week, host Will Griffin welcomes some of the area's most talented musicians to WPLN's Studio C. Listeners will enjoy great performances as well as insights into the works being performed and the musicians performing them.
Live in Studio C programs are now rebroadcast on the same day, by tape delay, Tuesday nights at 8:06p.m. Check out www.wpln.org for details and information.

Shawn and I just found out that we will both be teaching at the W.O. Smith Summer Music Camp this June 10-16, 2007! The W. O. Smith Music School is a non-profit educational institution where education, instruction and encouragement is offered to children with a passion for music without the means to afford lessons or instruments. We are thrilled to be part of this weeklong event! Go to www.wosmith.org for more information and details about this school!

"3rd Coast Vocals" performs April 15, 2007 at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Jazz Concert Series!

615 Sixth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Cost : $10
www.holytrinitytn.org

Jazz Concert Series at Holy Trinity Church. Check out jazz artists every third Sunday in April, May and June. Admission for each show is $10 or $25 for all three shows. 3rd Coast will perform from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Joining us will be Jody Nardone (piano), Marcus Finnie (drums) and Roger Spencer (bass).

"3rd Coast Vocals" will be performing at Tin Pan South on March 31st, 2007 at the Nashville Jazz Workshop! We will perform during the first set which begins at 7:00 pm! Go to www.tinpansouth.com for ticket prices, venues and exact performance times!

I am now teaching private vocal lessons at Gene Ford Music in Brentwood, TN. Check out www.genefordmusic.com for available times and pricing. Gene Ford Music is the premier music studio in Brentwood TN located in the Brentwood Place shopping center (Kroger's) at 330 Franklin Road.



As always, I continue to teach from my home studio.

"3rd Coast Vocals" has been selected to perform at the Nashville Jazz Workshop Fall Fundraiser on September 17, 2006!

Nashville Jazz Workshop Fall Fundraiser
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Vanderbilt University Club
2402 Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
Cost: $30

"3rd Coast Vocals" is Nashville's newest four part vocal jazz ensemble! "3rd Coast Vocals" is following in the giant footsteps of groups like Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices and Take 6. Members are musical director Jeff Hall (tenor), Darden Purcell (alto), Mark Stephens (bass) and Christina Watson (soprano). More information and live performance clips can be found on our website...www.myspace.com/3rdcoastvocals