The hypnotic pizzicato rhythm; the patient exploration of contemplative space; the ardent lyricism and emotional depth of the virtual string orchestra — these are hallmarks of the music of cellist DAVID DARLING, who left us at the beginning of 2021 after a long and exemplary life in music. When HOS launched our nationally syndicated program in 1983, David Darling was featured in program number one, and was already one of our core artists.
Born in Indiana in 1941, he studied cello at Indiana State University, became the first cellist of the pioneering jazz/classical fusion ensemble THE WINTER CONSORT in 1970, and played principal cello in the Nashville Symphony. His 1980 solo debut on the respected German jazz label ECM began a twenty year creative relationship with producer MANFRED EICHER, and ten albums that set a standard for creative contemporary string recordings.
In a unique career that extended over 50 years, David Darling distinguished himself as much more than a contemporary musician. His work as a music educator, contributions to humanitarian projects, and collaborations with poets and spiritual teachers, set an example of a musical life devoted to service and inspiration.
In addition to his ECM recordings, Darling sought out collaborations from outside the world of contemporary jazz, resulting in many diverse and richly romantic recordings, which we'll cover in a second retrospective. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the ECM recordings of DAVID DARLING, on a program called RESONANT DARK.
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