October 2015 • Jazz Cafe

10/2 – DARLA RICH Quartet

Darla Tarpinian (bass/vocals)
Rich Tarpinian (guitar/vocals)
David Stier (drums)
Lars Wendt (trombone/trumpet/flugelhorn)

Website: http://www.darlarich.com/

Darla and Rich Tarpinian has performed in a variety of settings and their music has been appreciated by audiences of all ages across a variety of venues throughout New Jersey since 2003. As well as performing songs from the standard jazz repertoire, they will often apply elements of jazz to popular songs written in more recent decades like the 70’s and 80’s. Whether doing vocal or strictly instrumental renditions, they seek selections that offer strong melodies and rich harmonies as well as opportunities for musical expression through improvisation. They challenge themselves to present their music with the same level of freshness and excitement each time they perform. They are pleased to be joined for this performance by David Stier (drums) and Lars Wendt (trombone/trumpet/flugelhorn).

Darla is a vocalist and bassist who plays upright bass and bass guitar. Her diverse vocal background has allowed her to apply a uniquely fresh and natural sound to the well-worn jazz repertoire. Her first vocal performance at the age of three set the stage for a lifetime of singing. She attributes her phrasing and ability to hear chord changes to the rhythms and four part harmonies common to the gospel quartet music that she heard and sang at an early age. After passing rigorous auditions, she made the unlikely jump to performances with large choral groups touring the US and Europe. Her time working with internationally known conductors and symphony orchestras demanded a discipline that was a useful contrast to the informal music of her past. Her move to New Jersey found her scaling back to smaller, less formal settings and eventually immersing herself in the complexities of jazz along with studying the bass. Darla enjoys the sound of the bass believing it has a quality and resonance similar to the human voice. She enjoys the ability of the bass to interact with other instruments beyond it’s traditional role of providing the pulse. Born in Kentucky near Cincinnati, Ohio, she moved to New Jersey in 1992 where she met her husband and musical partner, Rich Tarpinian.

Rich is a guitarist and vocalist who has been performing in the tri-state area for over 20 years. His earliest musical influences were his music teachers and his sister, a graduate of Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. His Armenian heritage ensured that he would be exposed at an early age to the complex rhythms and catchy melodies of eastern music. Growing up just south of the Canadian border, he was introduced to the rich jazz programming of one of the Montreal radio stations. A show featuring the music of Charlie Parker was of particular interest. This interest laid dormant for several years as he began his study of the guitar with classical instruction at the Crane School of Music. During this period, frequent jam sessions with other musicians offered a frequent exchange of ideas and challenges through exposure to many different styles. An interest in jazz stayed with him, which he later applied through continued study and listening. Over the years, Rich has studied and applied jazz to the guitar with inspiration coming from guitarists as well as other instrumentalists. While his guitar style reflects influences from Jimmy Raney, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, in addition to many other current guitarists, he focuses on reflecting his own personality on the instrument. As a vocal stylist, he aims for a natural sound without regard to the time period of the selection. As a supporting musician in both live performances and in recording sessions, Rich has worked with many area musicians as well as leading his own projects. Along with enjoying playing a familiar repertoire, he has written and performed his own music, some with accompanying lyrics. He teaches guitar privately and has taught in group settings through workshops. Rich plays a Gibson ES-165 and is a native of Massena, New York.

David Stier has 30 years for experience performing with a wide range of music ensembles. He studied music at Chapman University near Los Angeles, California where he was taught by noted jazz drummer and co-founder of the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet, Kevin Tullius. David also studied with jazz drummer, Tony Denicola, an influential music professor at The College of New Jersey well known for working with Harry James, Charlie Ventura, Kenny Davern and many other jazz icons. David has worked with many area musicians including Darla and Rich Tarpinian, Michelle Wiley and Jeannie Brooks. He has been both a leader and has had supporting positions in groups ranging from small combos to Big Bands.

Lars Wendt has been working professionally in the tri-state area for over 25 years. His broad musical interests have let to positions as tenured trombonist for both the Princeton Symphony and Riverside Symphonia to many small ensembles on the classical side, as well as forays into jazz and commercial music. Lars has performed with various artists that include Darla and Rich Tarpinian and Richie Cole of Alto Madness, as well as many others.