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Darryl Hall

An American Bassist living in France spreading groove and swing all over Europe and the world!

About Me

Darryl is an American born jazz bassist who lives in France. Prior to 2004, he lived in New York for twelve years where he performed with some of the most renowned artists in jazz, in many different genres of jazz and African diaspora music. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, birthplace to some of the world’s finest bassists including Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Alphonso Johnson, Charles Fambrough, Percy Heath, Jymie Merritt, Christian Mcbride, Arthur Harper, Tyrone Brown, Mike Boone, and Victor Bailey. While in New York, Darryl performed with many jazz luminaries including Mulgrew Miller, Carmen Lundy, Hank Jones, Mary Stallings, Geri Allen, James Williams, Stefon Harris, Regina Carter, Ravi Coltrane, and Robert Glasper, among others. In 1996 he was the winner of the Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition. Living in France since 2004, he has performed with many European and American artists throughout Europe, including Martial Solal, Cedar Walton, Archie Shepp, George Cables, Harold Mabern, Donald Brown, Piero Odorici, Kirk Lightsey, Uri Caine, Dianne Reeves, Didier Lockwood, Christian Escoude, Baptiste Trotignon Florin Nicolescu, Enrico Rava, Ximo Tebar, Dado Moroni, Rosario Giuliani, Joe Locke, Willie Jones, Wayne Escoffery, Laurent de Wilde, Aldo Romano, and many more. Predominantly self-taught, Darryl studied privately with pianist Gerald Price and bassist Tyrone Brown and composition at Manhattan School of Music.

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My Jazz Story

I love jazz because...it's music which reflects real life, in feelings and emotions. It’s a combination of entertaining, aesthetic, or cultural. Mostly without lyrics, the sounds create the magic of the message. The origins of jazz are African American as a result of its unique mix of African and European cultures. The diaspora of African American music, spirituals, blues, gospel, which were born out of struggle and hardship, set the path for jazz. It’s important that modern jazz retains a cultural connection to its history and not be overwhelmed or neglected by simply being academic and entertaining. Jazz labeling today can be misleading and must be called out and challenged when it falls short of its canons. I was first exposed to jazz through my father who listened to Satchmo, Ray Charles, Coltrane, Muddy Waters, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, all from the African American and American Diaspora. Discovering jazz can be a journey to understanding America, and the world, better. It reflects our shared cultures and history, our diversity, and common humanity.