Photo by Ines Kaiser

On Friday, March 9th, Darcy James Argue and his acclaimed big band Secret Society will return to Brooklyn’s Galapagos Art Space, where they celebrated the release of their GRAMMY® nominated 2009 debut, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records), for a special double-bill with the new music collective Anti-Social Music.

The music will begin at 7:00 p.m. with Anti-Social Music (ASM) performing archival music from 11tet, a now-defunct jazz composers workshop from the late 1990′s, as well as new works written for ASM by Kamala Sankaram, Dan Lasaga and Pat Muchmore. The group’s members include Franz Nicolay (Hold Steady), Peter Hess (Balkan Beat Box), Jean Cook (Jon Langford, Ida), Ed RosenBerg (jerseyband) and John Wriggle (Ex Caminos).

Secret Society will follow with a set featuring Vijay Iyer’s “Three Fragments” and David T. Little’s “Conspiracy Theory”, two pieces commissioned by the band and premiered at the Ecstatic Music Festival in February 2011, as well as a suite of original music from the score of Brooklyn Babylon and other selections from the ensemble’s growing catalog.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Advance tickets are available online for $20.

Learn more about Anti-Social Music and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society at http://antisocialmusic.org and http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo: James Daniel

These highly anticipated performances have been previewed, discussed and recommended in such publications as New York Magazine, the New York Times, Time Out New York and Salon.com

This innovative combination of music, animation and painting is produced by Beth Morrison Projects and supported by a grant from The MAP Fund, a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Tickets are available online or by phone at (718) 636-4100.

Learn more about Brooklyn Babylon at http://brooklynbabylon.com

Photo by Ines Kaiser

On Saturday, October 22nd at 8:00 p.m., composer/bandleader Darcy James Argue and graphic artist Danijel Zezelj will present a special preview of their multimedia collaboration Brooklyn Babylon at Purchase College’s PepsiCo Theatre in Purchase, New York.

This innovative combination of music, animation and painting is produced by Beth Morrison Projects and supported by a grant from The MAP Fund, a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The project was commissioned for the Next Wave Festival by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which will present its world premiere four-night run beginning Wednesday, November 9th.

Brooklyn Babylon is an hour-long narrative journey through a dystopian Brooklyn of the future where a carousel is being built atop the world’s highest tower. Argue’s GRAMMY® nominated big band Secret Society provides the original soundtrack to this dusky urban fable, as told by eight chapters of projected animation by Zezelj, who also paints in real time.

A more detailed sneak peek, including production sketches, animation stills, music samples and a two-minute trailer, is available at http://brooklynbabylon.com

Learn more about Darcy James Argue and Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

Tonight at 8:00 p.m., Brooklyn-based composer Darcy James Argue and his innovative 18-piece big band Secret Society will perform at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston.

The group’s set will feature the American premiere of music from the first three chapters of Brooklyn Babylon, its forthcoming multimedia collaboration with graphic artist Danijel Zezelj, as well as selections from its highly acclaimed debut, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records).

Tickets ($25 for non-members and $20 for members, students and seniors) are available in person at the MFA ticketing desk, by phone at 1-800-440-6975 and online at http://www.mfa.org

Front of house seating is available for an additional $5.

Argue, who earned his Master’s Degree at Boston’s New England Conservatory in 2002, last brought his acclaimed ensemble to the area in February 2010 when the band made its local debut at Regattabar in Harvard Square.

“There’s nothing else like Secret Society in today’s jazz scene,” declared the Boston Globe‘s Steve Greenlee in his review of the show. “Though he leads a big band, Argue is not stuck in the past. His music, which relies as much on hard rock as swing, is ambitious, relevant, and alive.”

Since then, Secret Society has become one of the most talked about groups in jazz, earning such high profile accolades as a GRAMMY® nomination, Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Up & Coming Artist of the Year and Large Ensemble of the Year, and first-place finishes in the Rising Star Big Band, Rising Star Composer and Rising Star Arranger categories in the DownBeat Critics’ Poll.

The band has also performed at such prestigious venues as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Merkin Concert Hall and The Kennedy Center, and at world renowned festivals including CareFusion Jazz Festival Newport, the London Jazz Festival and the TD Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

“Argue has managed to not just keep Secret Society together as a vehicle for his innovative writing,” explains AllAboutJazz.com’s John Kelman in a recent review, “but as a means for its musicians to develop a language and a familiarity with each other that’s clearly paying big dividends.”

JazzTimes‘ Michael J. West adds, “With their haunting compositions and imaginative experiments, Argue’s Secret Society might do for jazz what Radiohead did for rock—and poach some of its audience, too.”

Learn more about Darcy James Argue and Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

On Friday, September 30th at 8:00 p.m., Brooklyn-based composer Darcy James Argue and his innovative 18-piece big band Secret Society will perform at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston.

Tickets ($25 for non-members and $20 for members, students and seniors) are available in person at the MFA ticketing desk, by phone at 1-800-440-6975 and online at http://www.mfa.org

Front of house seating is available for an additional $5.

Argue, who earned his Master’s Degree at Boston’s New England Conservatory in 2002, last brought his acclaimed ensemble to the area in February 2010 when the band made its local debut at Regattabar in Harvard Square.

“There’s nothing else like Secret Society in today’s jazz scene,” declared the Boston Globe‘s Steve Greenlee in his review of the show. “Though he leads a big band, Argue is not stuck in the past. His music, which relies as much on hard rock as swing, is ambitious, relevant, and alive.”

Since then, Secret Society has become one of the most talked about groups in jazz, earning such high profile accolades as a GRAMMY® nomination, Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Up & Coming Artist of the Year and Large Ensemble of the Year, and first-place finishes in the Rising Star Big Band, Rising Star Composer and Rising Star Arranger categories in the DownBeat Critics’ Poll.

The band has also performed at such prestigious venues as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Merkin Concert Hall and The Kennedy Center, and at world renowned festivals including CareFusion Jazz Festival Newport, the London Jazz Festival and the TD Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

“Argue has managed to not just keep Secret Society together as a vehicle for his innovative writing,” explains AllAboutJazz.com’s John Kelman in a recent review, “but as a means for its musicians to develop a language and a familiarity with each other that’s clearly paying big dividends.”

JazzTimes‘ Michael J. West adds, “With their haunting compositions and imaginative experiments, Argue’s Secret Society might do for jazz what Radiohead did for rock—and poach some of its audience, too.”

Learn more about Darcy James Argue and Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

DownBeat‘s August issue is reaching subscribers now and with it the results of the 59th Annual Critics Poll.

We’re very pleased to report that our clients are well represented and in more categories than ever before.

AUM Fidelity earned the number nine spot on the Jazz Album of the Year list with William Parker’s I Plan To Stay A Believer: The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield, while its recording artists Darius Jones (Rising Star Alto Saxophone) and David S. Ware (Tenor Saxophone) made strong showings in their respective categories.

The members of Farmers By Nature, who recently released their second AUM Fidelity record, Out Of This World’s Distortions, also made some noise for their recent individual accomplishments. William Parker and Gerald Cleaver were recognized in the Bass and Rising Star Drums categories respectively, and Craig Taborn scored a hat trick with wins for Rising Star Piano, Electronic Keyboard and Rising Star Organ.

Darcy James Argue got the most votes in the Rising Star Composer category and his GRAMMY® nominated big band Secret Society grabbed the second spot for Rising Star Big Band. He and the group were also recognized in the Arranger, Rising Star Arranger, Composer and Big Band categories.

James Falzone, who appeared on three very different recordings in the past year (KLANG’s Other Doors, Allos Musica Trio’s Lamentations and Vox Arcana’s Aerial Age), was fourth in the Rising Star Clarinet category.

Firehouse 12 Records and Mary Halvorson share the credit for Saturn Sings‘ number eight spot on the Jazz Album of the Year list.

Ms. Halvorson also went on to win for Rising Star Guitar while also being recognized in the Rising Star Jazz Artist category. Her longstanding trio, featuring Rising Star Bass winner John Hébert, finished fourth in the Rising Star Jazz Group category.

Last but definitely not least, Fay Victor, who has been impressing critics and fans alike in recent months with her own bands as well as collaborations with Other Dimensions In Music and the ICP Orchestra, was recognized in both the Rising Star Female Vocals and Female Vocals categories.

Congratulations to all the musicians and labels on this recognition of their work and thanks to all the voters for their attention and support of our clients and their music.

Photo by Ines Kaiser

In today’s Hartford Courant, Chuck Obuchowski reviews Saturday night’s headline performance by Darcy James Argue‘s Secret Society at the 16th Annual Western Connecticut State University Jazz Festival.

“Argue’s Secret Society gave a mesmerizing performance at the Ives Concert Center in Danbury,” he writes. “The leader’s repertoire brimmed with enticing sonic combinations and fresh instrumental possibilities. Ultimately, the union of these diverse influences has given Argue’s compositions and arrangements a unique standing among large jazz ensembles. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s recruited a number of outstanding soloists, such as trombonist Mike Fahie, whose potent work drove the sardonically titled ‘Blowout Prevention.’ But Argue is a masterful arranger, above all else.”

Learn more about Argue and the band, which just announced its first-ever Canadian tour, at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

Tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m., Brooklyn-based composer/bandleader Darcy James Argue and his acclaimed 18-piece big band Secret Society will headline the 16th Annual Western Connecticut State University Jazz Festival at Ives Concert Hall in Danbury, Connecticut.

The group, which just announced its plans to tour major Canadian jazz festivals this June, will present selections from its GRAMMY® nominated debut, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records), as well as more recent material.

Two student ensembles will open the show at 7:00 p.m., followed by a short intermission before Secret Society’s set.

Advance tickets are available online at http://www.wcsu.edu/tickets and by phone at (203) 837-8499.

Learn more about Darcy James Argue and Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

On Thursday, May 26th, composer/bandleader Darcy James Argue will present a special hometown double-bill at Brooklyn’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space featuring his acclaimed 18-piece big band Secret Society and the Ben Allison Band.

“Ben Allison has been a huge inspiration to me for many years,” Argue explains, “not just as a tremendous bassist, composer, and bandleader, but also as the founder of the Jazz Composer’s Collective, a genuinely visionary organization. His new record, Action-Refraction (Palmetto Records), is the most exciting thing I’ve heard this year and I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to present this double-bill.”

Allison’s band is scheduled to perform first at 8:00 p.m. followed by a set by Secret Society. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $16 (advance) and $20 (at the door). Advance tickets can be purchased at http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/38701

Learn more about Darcy James Argue and Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

Darcy James Argue‘s Secret Society returns to Iridium Jazz Club in New York tonight for sets at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.

This will be the GRAMMY® nominated 18-piece big band’s third appearance at the venue (audio from its September 22nd performance is available here), and its first New York concert of the Spring following collaborations with presenter Search and Restore and fellow postmodern big band Fight The Big Bull in January, and composers Vijay Iyer, Nicole Lizée and David T. Little in February.

Tickets are available online and by phone at (212) 582-2121.

Learn more about Secret Society at http://www.secretsocietymusic.org