Darren Beckett

Darren Beckett (drums) won a prestigious Bass Ireland Award as a teenager, leaving the Emerald Isle to study jazz in New York, where he resided for 21 years. Across his career, he has played drums everywhere from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Royal Albert Hall in London. He’s performed on over 50 albums recording with notable names like Brandon Flowers, Daniel Lanois, Madeleine Peyroux, Lee Konitz and Kenny Wheeler. Over the years, Darren has worked with Lauryn Hill of The Fugees, Mercury Rev, Amen Dunes, James Hunter, jazz pianist Aaron Parks Played festivals all over the world from Austin City Limits to Montreaux to NH7 in India. His current main gigs today are with Brandon Flowers (The Killers), and American jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, whom he toured with for over ten years. Darren co-wrote the lead single ‘Can’t Deny My Love’ on Brandon Flowers’ number one charting second solo album, ‘The Desired Effect’. He currently teaches drums at ACM London, and has been touring the US and Europe with Indie darlings Amen Dunes this year, Mercury Rev, Shane McGowan also spending part of the year recording in LA, Austin and New York with various artists and film composers. Darren’s band Ambulance ltd recently reformed to play some shows. In New York.Since moving to the UK in 2016 he’s been a regular on the London jazz scene playing Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 club, playing with Jason Rebello, Gilad Atzmon, Jim Mullen and Alan Barnes. And active on the studio scene in London and Dublin.

After studying at Berklee College of Music in the nineties, Belgian saxophonist Stéphane Mercier settles for seven years in New York where he develops his career and signs for one of the most important jazz indie label: Fresh Sound/New Talent. His album, Flor de Luna, is recorded in 2000 and distributed worldwide.He moves then to Paris before returning to Belgium, still performing internationally with bands ranging from intimist duo to big band.In 2013, he releases not only an album that includes 16 different duos, a live performance with an international sextet, but also participates in a 300 date tour with his father as a host, having created a multi- media show about jazz history. Following that, he travels worlwide as an ambassador for the 200 year birthday celebration of Adolphe Sax, the Belgian creator of the saxophone, in countries such as Hungary, USA, Qatar, Kazhakstan,…).In addition to his performances, Stéphane wrote a book about jazz history (2017, Ikor editions)) and works on a series of interviews (Quincy Jones, Ivan Lins, Toots Thielemans, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Garrett…).He also takes the leadership of the Jazz Station Big Band, the house band of the famous Jazz Station club in Brussels, with a monthly residency and international collaborations (Grégoire Maret, Jason Rebello, Emil Viklicki, Damon Brown,…).His last album “Trip!” is produced on Igloo Records.

Having met each other in the mid 90’s in New York City, Darren and Stéphane struck up a musical and personal friendship. Over the years Darren and Stéphane have toured together in Europe, having both located back to Europe they continue to perform and record together on a more regularly basis.

Irish Bassist David Redmond is best known for his collaborations with renowned Irish and International groups, and musicians including the acclaimed American pianist Bill Carrothers as part of the Kevin Brady Trio, Larry Coryell, the UK jazz vocalist Ian Shaw. He is a member of both the Phil Ware Trio and Tommy Halferty Trio. He is also a member of Yurodny (one of Irelands leading World Music groups).

Please see link below for tickets:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theblackgateculturalcentre/319279