Darcy James Argue

“Infernal Machines stands defiant, updating the big band tradition for the new millennium while presenting exciting possibilities for the future." —Troy Collins, All About Jazz "A big, broad musical vocabulary came together easily, without jump-cutting or wrenching shifts of style. Mr. Argue made all these elements belong together naturally." —Ben Ratliff, New York Times

"Clearly some of the most ambitious and compelling sounds I've ever encountered in the past 40 years." —Juan Rodriguez, Montreal Gazette

"The music was full of large-scale, intricate designs [...] built on some of the best lessons of Charles Mingus and Bob Brookmeyer, not only in harmony and structure but also in momentum, in moving a piece forward. [...]. A big, broad musical vocabulary came together easily, without jump-cutting or wrenching shifts of style. Mr. Argue made all these elements belong together naturally." —Ben Ratliff, New York Times

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“Infernal Machines stands defiant, updating the big band tradition for the new millennium while presenting exciting possibilities for the future." —Troy Collins, All About Jazz "A big, broad musical vocabulary came together easily, without jump-cutting or wrenching shifts of style. Mr. Argue made all these elements belong together naturally." —Ben Ratliff, New York Times

"Clearly some of the most ambitious and compelling sounds I've ever encountered in the past 40 years." —Juan Rodriguez, Montreal Gazette

"The music was full of large-scale, intricate designs [...] built on some of the best lessons of Charles Mingus and Bob Brookmeyer, not only in harmony and structure but also in momentum, in moving a piece forward. [...]. A big, broad musical vocabulary came together easily, without jump-cutting or wrenching shifts of style. Mr. Argue made all these elements belong together naturally." —Ben Ratliff, New York Times

"This powerful and well-stocked ensemble juxtaposes postwar big-band conventions with ideas borrowed from indie rock, classical Minimalism, and a handful of other idiomatic regions. The results are well worth hearing." —Nate Chinen, New York Times

"Clearly some of the most ambitious and compelling sounds I've ever encountered in the past 40 years." —Juan Rodriguez, Montreal Gazette

"Inspiring." —Ethan Iverson, pianist, The Bad Plus

"It was like hearing Duke Ellington and minimalism and Tortoise and Funkadelic and Elliott Carter and much else besides melding into one floating, shifting, dodging music." —Carl Wilson, zoilus.com

"Darcy James Argue is a bright young mind in jazz." —Josh Jackson, WBGO Radio

"Lucky for us, there's always been a handful of artists willing to tilt at windmills, intoxicated by a large ensemble's broad palette and dynamic heft. The latest leader to create a stir downtown is Darcy James Argue." —Steve Smith, Time Out New York

"Darcy James Argue's music delights in the anachronism of the big band in a post-punk musical environment." —Frank J. Oteri, New Music Box

"A talent of the first order, already on a par with his mentors Maria Schneider and John Hollenbeck." —Peter Matthews, Feast Of Music

"When you listen to the music you are transported to a sinister yet beautiful world, a past that never was." —Magpie Killjoy, Steampunk Magazine

"Sam Sadigursky blew a passionate solo over a rhythm section that has become scarily good; the climax captured the cinematic sweep of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays, all sunburst, breeze and melting joy. "Argue's charts are smart and tuneful, tough on players, and incredibly gracious to listeners. And some bright publisher should be pushing his compositions to college jazz bands—hard. I know I'd have killed to play music like this." —Steve Smith, Night After Night

"Darcy James Argue's big band skillfully realizes the leader's mature, emotive compositions and thick arrangements." —Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York

"Darcy James Argue has developed an experimental yet accessible voice as a composer. His gifts are outstanding." —Bob Brookmeyer, composer

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