New York is experiencing a veritable renaissance of new jazz club openings — praise be! Martin Porter, a veteran of Jazz Standard, is behind the latest of these new ventures, The Pocket, and it has become an instant hub for some of the city’s finest musicians.
August 2026 Newsletter: Out of pocket, but I’m always in my bagRead More
Deeply honored to be awarded Arranger of the Year for the third consecutive year!
Darcy James Argue wins Arranger of the Year in DownBeat Critics PollRead More
Oh hi there… just casually announcing the culmination of my second season as Composer-in-Residence of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with our special guest Walter Smith III.
Casually introducing Walter Smith III with the Frankfurt Radio Big BandRead More
The official music video for “With Every Breath I Take,” featuring the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley, is out now on YouTube. The full album is coming June 26 on Nonesuch Records.
WATCH NOW: Cécile McLorin Salvant with the Metropole Orkest, “With Every Breath I Take”Read More
My March 14 concert with Brad Mehldau at the stunning Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, performing my arrangements of his music for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, is now available for streaming from the European broadcaster ARTE.
WATCH NOW: Brad Mehldau with Darcy James Argue and the Frankfurt Radio Big BandRead More
I’m delighted to announce that With Every Breath I Take, a new album featuring my orchestral arrangements of Cecile McLorin Salvant’s desert island ballads, performed by the Metropole Orkest and conducted by Jules Buckley, will be out on Nonesuch Records on June 26.
Tomorrow night — Friday, April 3 — Aaron Diehl and I, aided and abetted by the talented young students at in the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra, will perform the 3-part suite I wrote to feature Aaron, A Banquet for the Birds, alongside my arrangements of Aaron’s original compositions.
The past few days have been a literal dream come true: rehearsing with Brad Mehldau alongside the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.
Brad Mehldau, DJA, and the Frankfurt Radio Big BandRead More
Exciting news: on Thursday, September 25, I make my New York Philharmonic debut as an arranger — at their opening night gala!
DJA arrangements performed by the New York Philharmonic with Cécile McLorin SalvantRead More
I’m thrilled to announce the guests for my second season as Composer-in-Residence of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Brad Mehldau and Walter Smith III.
DJA + Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Season 2 with Brad Mehldau & Walter Smith IIIRead More
