Darden Purcell

DARDEN PURCELL is one of the most sought after Jazz vocalists in Central IL. Purcell received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance at Virginia Tech and a Master in Music in Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A multi-faceted musician, Purcell is active as a featured soloist with Big Bands and small ensembles, band leader and vocal instructor. Purcell has performed with many of the world's top jazz artists including Chip McNeill, Chip Stephens, Glenn Wilson, Jim Pugh, Jeff Helgesen, Joan Hickey, Larry Gray, Dana Hall, Stockton Helbing and Lisanne Lyons. She is currently working on her Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance at the U of I where she teaches Jazz/Commercial Voice.
Purcell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance from Virginia Tech, where she studied under the direction of Lisanne Lyons and Chip McNeill and performed with the Down Beat award winning Jazz Vocal group, "The New Virginians." She can be heard on the "New Virginian's" CD "Evolution,” and was a featured vocalist with the Virginia Tech Jazz Band.
After graduation, Purcell auditioned and was selected for the Washington D.C. based U.S. Air Force Band rock/pop group "High Flight." She performed nationwide throughout twenty states, including venues in Washington D.C., the US Capitol, Pentagon, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and Constituion Hall, as well as overseas venues in Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Oman and Qatar. Purcell can be heard as a soloist and back-up vocalist on "Highlights.”
Back-up credits include nationally renowned artists including R&B legend Chaka Kahn, country recording star Bryan White, Janie Frickie, Freda and Sherrie Payne, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore and Rita Coolidge, as part of the Air Force Band Guest Artist Series. Purcell also performed back-up vocals for Lari White and gospel star BeBe Winans and Darlene Love on "The Late Show with David Letterman.”
A highlight of Purcell’s Air Force career was touring with the Jazz Band, "The Airmen of Note." She was the featured vocalist on a west coast tour, performing throughout California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada and “Operation Desert Greetings,” entertaining troops in Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrein. After four years of service, Darden honorably separated from the U.S. Air Force.
Upon separating, Purcell moved to Nashville, where she gigged at local hot spots, F. Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Bar, Oktoberfest, the Nashville Jazz Workshop and Opryland Hotel and appeared twice on Nashville Public Radio show "Live in Studio C.” In addition to solo performances, Purcell was the alto voice in the vocal jazz quartet "3rd Coast Vocals.” Purcell served as a vocal educator at Gene Ford Music, the W.O. Smith Community Music School 2007 and 2008 summer camp and was a member of the (WMBA) Women's Music Business Association.
Purcell currently lives in Champaign, Illinois where she is working on her Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies. She was awarded a university fellowship in 2007 and a teaching assistantship in 2008. She continues to gig at many local and regional establishments including the Allerton Barn Music Festival, The Iron Post, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Jim Gould, The Embassy Tavern, Alto Vineyards, Silvercreek Restaurant, The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis, IN), Indianapolis Artsgarden and The Blue Wisp (Cincinnati, OH). She can also be heard in the Jazz/Fusion/Funk Band, "Weapons of Mass DisFunktion and in trombonist Dave Dickey's Jazz Crusaders Tribute band, "C-U Jazz Crusaders." Purcell will be recording her debut CD June 2009 which is being produced by Grammy Award winning saxophonist, Chip McNeill. Stay tuned for recording details.
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