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Darcy James Argue
In 'Real Enemies,' Darcy James Argue Confronts A Post-Truth World

Darcy James Argue conducts The Secret Society in a performance of Real Enemies. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

In 'Real Enemies,' Darcy James Argue Confronts A Post-Truth World

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

The Secret Society bandleader says his latest composition explores "the present-day folklore that we call conspiracy theories" — no tinfoil hat required.

In 'Real Enemies,' Darcy James Argue Confronts A Post-Truth World

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Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert

Darcy James Argue conducts the Secret Society in a new big-band piece at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Adam Kissick for NPR

Newport Jazz Festival

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert

With a sly salute to fellow composer and big-band leader Duke Ellington, Argue presents the U.S. premiere of a new 35-minute work. It joins other unrecorded tunes during Secret Society's Newport set.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society In Concert

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Darcy James Argue's Secret Society: Newport Jazz 2010
NPR

Newport Jazz Festival

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society: Newport Jazz 2010

WBGO

More than a half-century after big bands were popular, Argue filters pop music through his big band. The band traveled up from its New York base to perform at the CareFusion Newport Folk Festival.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society: Newport Jazz 2010

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Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2012

Darcy James Argue conducts his Secret Society at the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival. Erik Jacobs for NPR hide caption

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Erik Jacobs for NPR

Newport Jazz Festival

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2012

Armed with a set of enormously open ears, the composer has steadily been rescuing the big band from the dustbin of anachronism.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2012

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First Listen: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, 'Brooklyn Babylon'

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society's new album, Brooklyn Babylon, comes out April 30. Lindsay Beyerstein/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Lindsay Beyerstein/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, 'Brooklyn Babylon'

The composer's second album accompanies an animated work: the tale of a future metropolis where professional aims and neighborhood loyalty square off. It looks like both early-20th-century New York and a bordering-on-dystopian future. Perfect for a ultramodern big band like this one.

Prologue

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Music Articles

A Jazz Big Band Worth Blogging About

Darcy James Argue leads the 18-piece jazz ensemble Secret Society, which he describes as "steampunk." He also writes one of the jazz world's most popular blogs. And, thanks to his fans and readers, Argue was able to make his first album.

A Jazz Big Band Worth Blogging About

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Favorite Sessions

Darcy James Argue: Big Band Steampunk

WBGO

Under the tutelage of Bob Brookmeyer and Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society draws on rock, big-band jazz and classical music. With sessions sponsored by WBGO, Argue's Infernal Machines is a fresh take on the big-band sound, pushing the studio to the limit.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society in Studio on WBGO 12/15/09

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