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jazz music releases United States

Saxophonist Darryl Yokley fills “The Void” with new release

Saxophonist Darryl Yokley
Saxophonist Darryl Yokley

From playing jazz gigs as a leader/sideman or in a big band to performing classical solo recitals and concerts with chamber groups, Darryl Yokley has enjoyed working with some of the greatest musicians in a variety of genres.

Yokley has performed with such artists as the Captain Black Big Band led by pianist Orrin Evans, J.D. Allen’s sextet, Valery Ponomarev’s Big Band “Our Father Who Art Blakey,” as well as the Frank Lacy Quintet and Big Band.In addition to performing, Yokley has also written big band arrangements that have been performed by The Captain Black Big Band and the Frank Lacy Big Band. He has since performed at a number of other venues in New York, including the Jazz Galley, Smalls, the Zinc Bar, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and the Garage. He also performed for Quincy Jones at a musical tribute in New York.

As a leader, Yokley has formed a quintet with Duane Eubanks on trumpet, George Burton on Piano, Luques Curtis on Bass, and Wayne Smith Jr. on drums. The band (called Sound Reformation) made its debut back in November 2010 and has been performing regularly since then.

Yokley wrote all of the music on “The Void” album, drawing from a number of different influences, breaking the barriers of musical categories.

Currently, in his classical career, Yokley and Hemingway are in the midst of promoting their duo ensemble, Odd Men Out, which commissioned a piece from Pittsburgh composer Suzanne Polak. Yokley also teaches the saxophone to students of all ages at Westminster Conservatory in Princeton, NJ.