Darren Pickering

"I’m a fan of Rattle – as a label, their ethos, enthusiasm, curation; their dedication. And this is one of the best releases they’ve put in the world in a while. And Darren Pickering Small Worlds is a phenomenon unit, and the compositions here, most often, are sublime." (Simon Sweetman, 'Off The Tracks')

"So it's modern, perfectly melodic, and the general movement is based on fluidity. The contribution of electronics is quite discreet but nevertheless thickens a subject whose sounds regularly come out of the usual framework with which our ears are confronted. There is a certain je ne sais quoi in this music that is part of its charm. The interaction is there and we can say that the musicians of the quartet have the necessary osmosis for their music to blossom fully. Be curious, listen to them." (Yves Dorison, 'Culture Jazz')

Read more

"I’m a fan of Rattle – as a label, their ethos, enthusiasm, curation; their dedication. And this is one of the best releases they’ve put in the world in a while. And Darren Pickering Small Worlds is a phenomenon unit, and the compositions here, most often, are sublime." (Simon Sweetman, 'Off The Tracks')

"So it's modern, perfectly melodic, and the general movement is based on fluidity. The contribution of electronics is quite discreet but nevertheless thickens a subject whose sounds regularly come out of the usual framework with which our ears are confronted. There is a certain je ne sais quoi in this music that is part of its charm. The interaction is there and we can say that the musicians of the quartet have the necessary osmosis for their music to blossom fully. Be curious, listen to them." (Yves Dorison, 'Culture Jazz')

"I love this album because it redefines what jazz is and wrestles it out of the hands of the academics who tend to overthink and over play the genre. The addition of electronic textures heightens the experience and blurs the boundaries, making the experience far more unique and adventurous. Sure, you can call this ‘jazz’, but I call it cool!" (Tim Gruar, 'Ambient Light')

"Here’s something for those peaceful moments when softly falling rain instills a serenity upon the world you hope will never end." (Dave Sumner, 'Best Jazz on Bandcamp: August 2022')

"From its polite opener, Volume One is a well curated journey into small but interesting worlds which reward repeat listening and set them up for a welcome second volume." (Graham Reid, 'Elsewhere")

"Darren Pickering’s compositions are lovely and have a remarkable ability to convey both a sense of journey and a somewhat mournful deep contemplation. His melodic lines are almost instantly memorable, and he’s prone to emphasise them with repetitive cycles. Pickering’s piano is seldom left on its lonesome, however, and especially notable is the fact that Mitch Dwyer’s guitar often doubles those piano melodies to pleasing effect." (Gary Steel, 'Witchdoctor')

Show less