Darrin Archer has gained a reputation as a great pianist and composer both in Melbourne and Sydney. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Music, Composition and Theory) from Latrobe University in 1994, and then headed to Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied jazz piano with Mike Nock and Judy Bailey, completing an Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies in 1996. Since then he has been working with many of Melbourne and Sydney’s best players and bands.

Artist credits include:
· Emma Pask (James Morrison’s singer),
· Lily Dior
· Jamie Oelers
· Kristen Cornwell
· Gian Slater
· Alison Wedding
· Michelle Nicole
· Sam Dixon and Terapai Richmond from DIG
· Tito Mambo Salsa band
· Gordon Brisker Bigband,
· And many others, plus bands led under his own name.

Venue credits include:
· Bennett’s Lane Jazz club
· Dizzy’s Jazz club
· Manchester Lane Jazz club
· the Zimmer bar
· Bar 303
· The Stage
· The Strawberry Hills Hotel (SIMA gigs)
· The Excelsior Hotel (Jazzgroove gigs)
· The Side-on Café
· The Basement
· The Harbourside Brasserie

Add to this solo residencies at places such as The Sydney Regent, The Sydney Nikko, and Burnham Beeches (to name a few), performances at many jazz festivals such as the Manly jazz festival, the Half Bent festival and the Newport jazz festival, and you have one competent and experienced performer.

Darrin has recorded various albums under other leaders, including an album recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of S.A.J.A. (the Scandinavian Australian Jazz Alliance), and has just released his debut album of originals, “Secret World” (funded by a Arts Victoria demo recording grant). The album was received to high acclaim, and has been played on ABC Classic FM, ABC Radio National, RRR, and PBS. One composition from this cd was included in the Newmarket “Jazz in Melbourne” compilation CD.

He won the Jazz Action Society Composition competition in 1996, and was a finalist in the 2003 MusicOz songwriting competition (Jazz Category).
Darrin has also written the music for short films such as “Karaoke” (by Luke Eve: he was the winner of Tropfest 2005), and “Apprentice” (Dustin Fenely).

He was a semi-finalist in The National Jazz Awards in 2006, and performed at The Wangaratta festival of Jazz.

 

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