Darcy James Argue : NPR

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 Videos

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

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

February 23, 2017 • 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

August 5, 2014 • 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

1:08:52

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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

August 7, 2010 • 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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John Ellis, Darcy James Argue On JazzSet

Saxophonist John Ellis (center) performs with Matt Perrine (left) on sousaphone at the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival. Erik Jacobs for NPR hide caption

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Erik Jacobs for NPR

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

John Ellis, Darcy James Argue On JazzSet

WBGO

June 12, 2014 • A carnival, a funhouse, a carousel atop the tallest building in the world — all are imagined settings for music of Ellis and Argue at the Newport Jazz Festival.

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

August 4, 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'

April 21, 2013 • 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 Interviews

A Jazz Big Band Worth Blogging About

October 13, 2009 • 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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Transcript

Favorite Sessions

Darcy James Argue: Big Band Steampunk

WBGO

May 5, 2009 • 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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Jimmy Katz

The Best Music Of 2009

Take Five's Top 10 Jazz Records Of 2009

December 6, 2009 • Looking back on the year in jazz, much of the focus naturally falls on young talents such as Vijay Iyer. Still, some of 2009's key records also evoked bygone jazz eras with such creativity that they might signal a new wave of New Orleans and Brazilian jazz.