Recipient Information
Location
West Orange, New Jersey
Project Title
Little Content Residency
Year of Award
2023
Grant or Fellowship
Jazz Road Creative Residencies Grant
Grant Amount
$40,000
This project will support the Little Content Residency, a 4-week program held in New Orleans from January 8 to February 4, 2024, in partnership with Second Line Arts Collective. This opportunity creates educational content and concerts for pre-K to 2nd grade students at Kipp East. Content will be filmed at Congo Square, Esplanade Studio, Preservation Hall, St. Louis Cathedral, and other cultural landmarks in New Orleans, celebrating the city's rich musical heritage.
About the Artist
Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Darrian Douglas has established a successful career in jazz music, performing with various groups in both New Orleans and New York City. Under the tutelage of esteemed music educators, including Dr. Perry Combs and Alvin Fielder, Darrian honed his skills and was guided in his musical journey.
In 2007, Darrian relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana where he took over the drum chair in Ellis Marsalis's quartet. He cherished the opportunity to play with Marsalis, stating that it allowed him to grow and experiment musically without any limitations. He continued playing with Marsalis until December 2012.
Darrian is a talented drummer, composer, and bandleader of The Session, a group comprised of musicians he has collaborated with while performing with Jason Marsalis' vibe quartet. He has made a name for himself, performing at over 30 festivals worldwide, and at renowned venues like The Kennedy Center, Herbst Theatre, Saenger Theatre, Aladdin Theater, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Snug Harbor, Smoke Jazz Club, and Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse.
Throughout his career, Darrian has shared the stage with musical greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Victor Goines, Jazzmeia Horn, Brianna Thomas, and Ellis Marsalis. He has recorded with several artists, including Ellis Marsalis, Greggory Agid, Bria Skonberg, and Jazzmeia Horn to name a few.
In addition to performing, Darrian has a passion for teaching and was a percussion instructor at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Today, he serves as the Executive Director of the Second Line Arts Collective, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive music education programming, from recess to record deals. The organization aims to bridge the gap in music instruction by addressing the lack of early music education and career sustainability in the music industry. The collective inspires a love of music and empowers musicians by creating a tight-knit community of artists and industry professionals.