Henry Alphonsus Darragh

Member Since: 2010 | Location: Houston | Page Views: 1,451

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About Me

multi-instrumenyalist composer, arranger, bandleader and educator

Henry Darragh has established himself as an in-demand musician in the flourishing Houston jazz scene. Since his 2009 debut album, Tell Her for Me, he has continued composing, arranging, producing, directing and playing piano, trombone, or singing for several artists and groups. He arranged Jacqui Sutton’s Frontier Jazz Orchestra debut album Billie and Dolly, and played on her FJO’s Notes from the Frontier. He contributed an original song for Omni Brass’ CD, Red. Henry also played trombone on the electronic album, Heavy Heights and has recorded for artists Karina Nistal and Zin. Henry's 2015 sophomore release as a leader, Too Much Monday, features his sextet playing originals, standards and a few other covers. Following that release, Henry was nominated for three categories in the Houston Press Awards. In the Spring of 2016, Henry completed a commission for the Houston Grand Opera for their Veterans Songbook. In 2017, Henry was commissioned by Dance Houston to transcribe and write big band arrangements for the musical Swing, Baby, Swing. In 2018, Henry received a grant from the City of Houston and Houston Art Alliance to complete his Doc Loc and the Swangers project. It takes iconic Houston rap and arranges it for big band and octet. The releasee mad the Houston Chronicle’s 2019 #2 of the top 10 Henry received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in December 2015. He teaches as adjunct faculty at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, privately, and is on faculty at the summer Texas Music Festival – jazz institute.