About Me
Take a close look at the history of New Orleans music and you'll understand why Darrell Lavigne has been performing on stages all around the world. He was destined to become a part of the city's rich jazz climate. Lavigne began his musical excursions at the age of ten first on guitar then trumpet. It wasn't until his senior year when he finally decided piano would be the instrument of choice. I wanted to explore harmony and the colors of music and the piano represented that vehicle for me. Piano was just one facet of Darrell's study when along the way he became interested in how music was put together. He decided to major in composition at Xavier University of New Orleans and was under the guidance of composer Roger Dickerson. As a pianist his influences came from the usual jazz sources such as Monk, Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal, Hancock, Corea, Tyner and Jarrett. "My father was responsible for my appetite for jazz. He used to put on Charlie Parker, Trane and Miles Davis records and even at a young age made me listen to certain things like solo entrances in the songs. I also was fortunate he introduced me to big bands like Ellington, Basie and Stan Kenton."All of these experiences helped Darrell to be one of the most sought after pianist in town, performing with such notables as MaxJazz artist Phillip Manuel, Wanda Rouzan, Germaine Bazzle, Karin Williams, Samirah Evans, Delfeayo Marsalis, and former CBS jazz artist, Kent Jordan, with whom he would record two albums,write for one (Night Aire) and produce another(Out Of This World). This led to associations with other Jordan family members such as Sir Edward "Kidd" Jordan and the Improvisational Arts Quintet, an avant-garde jazz ensemble featuring Jordan, Clyde Kerr on trumpet drummer Alvin Fielder an the renowned bassist, William Parker. Darrell also recorded and toured with former CBS and Arkadia Jazz recording artist Marlon Jordan.Lavigne expanded his associations and contributions leading to performances with Bill Summers of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters group, Hugh Masekela, Kirk Whalum and a gospel video with Oleta Adams. In 2000, along with Edward Anderson, he co-led and wrote for Bleu Orleans, a contemporary jazz/world music group releasing "Bleu Orleans" In 2001, Anderson and Lavigne composed music for the documentary, "Bayou Lotus- The Shei-Mei Temple Story". Darrell was selected the best contemporary pianist in 2002 and jazz all-star, an award given annually by New Orleans Magazine. Late 2005 saw two musical releases of note. "Bleu 2" was released in November of that year marking a new direction and compositional depth for Bleu Orleans. Darrell also performed on piano, wrote and conducted string arrangements on Stephanie and Marlon Jordan's critically acclaimed release, "You Don't Know What Love Is". That same year, Lavigne also recorded on Donald Harrison's "3D" release featuring grammy-award winning trumpeter, Chris Botti and producer Chuck Loeb. Though he is respected as a pianist/multi-keyboardist, he continues to produce and write for a number of artists like Kent Jordan, Michael Ward, Kyle Turner and others. Lavigne is involved with keeping the music alive with kids as well. He has been a faculty member of the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp since 2000 and has performed numerous jazz awareness and Arts in Education Workshops.
Darrell Lavigne is continuing projects with various artists and composing music for commercials and film. Stay Tuned.DISCOGRAPHY
Bleu Orleans
Bleu Orleans (Fertile Crescent -2000)
Bleu 2 (Fertile Crescent-2005)Kent Jordan
Night Aire (CBS -1986)
Essence (CBS -1986)
Out of This World (Funkshenal Art Media-2004)Kidd Jordan/IAQ
New New Orleans Music (Rounder-1988)
Kidd Stuff (Danjor)Marlon Jordan
For You Only (CBS-1988)
You Don't Know What Love Is (Louisiana Red Hot-2005)Michael Ward
Just Me
Make a Wish (Ralph Records 2001)
Continuum (Sweet-Music-Records-2003)
After The Kiss (Sweet Music Records-2006)Kyle Turner- KT3 (Lykla Music 2002)
Wanda Rouzan-Where Ya At? (Hucklebuck 2001)
Kim Prevost Talk To Me- (STR Digital 2003)
Donald Harrison- 3D (F.O.M.P-2005)
Leah Chase- At Last (Fertile Crescent-2003)
Samirah Evans- Give Me a Moment
Hart McNee- Gran Bwa (Frenchmen Street)
Ricky Sebastian- The Spirit Within (STR Digital)
Karin Williams- Karin Williams (Nicholas Entertainment 2003)Highlighted Past PerformancesBerlin Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Grand Jazz, Mackinac Island, Montreal Jazz Festival,Heineken Jazz Festival, Rotterdam, JVC Jazz Festival, NCL Floating Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival; Mt. Zao Jazz Festival, Japan, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Catalina Jazz Traxx Festival, The Blue Note Jazz Club, NY, Tokyo, Clarice Smith Center at UMD, Standard Bank Jazz Festival, South Africa, Festa Music Ascona, International Festival De Louisianne, Grand Jazz Sapporo, Japan, Southern Fever Tour, Netherlands,City Stages, Mobile, Potomac River Festival, Dam Square Festival,Amsterdam, Festival Las Artes, Mexico
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