About

Darren Heinrich is a versatile Sydney-based pianist & organist, who holds a 1st class Honours degree in Jazz from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied with Judy Bailey and Kevin Hunt. His influences incorporate the entire spectrum of the Jazz idiom, from its earliest ragtime roots to modern jazz. He regularly gigs with his own trio and freelances with a wide variety of acts both locally and abroad. During the last five years his focus has been jazz organ music, travelling to the US to study with Hammond masters Dr. Lonnie Smith and Tony Monaco, and writing a thesis comparing the styles of Jimmy Smith and Larry Young.

The Darren Heinrich Trio is a classic Hammond Organ combo - Organ/Guitar/Drums. The music’s emphasis is groove, with equal parts tradition and innovation. Original music by Darren forms a significant part of the band's repertoire in addition to standards and blues.

News and Recent stuff...

Soul Jazz Session - 6 weeks old and going strong!

PLAYBAR at 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills on WEDNESDAYS. With Sam Rollings - Guitar, Tim Firth - Drums, Darren Heinrich - Organ.

NEW WEEKLY GIG - SOUL JAZZ SESSIONS - starts March 27th.

I'm really excited about this - I have a new residency situation at the new PLAYBAR at 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills on WEDNESDAYS. With Sam Rollings - Guitar, Tim Firth - Drums, Darren Heinrich - Organ. Music from 7pm and it's FREE! CD Giveaways on opening night too.

New gig organ!

I'm proud to announce I've been given an Artist deal from KeyB Organ, Italy. This B3 clone is as close as it gets to the real vintage Hammond.

The Come Out Swinging Tour with Ray Beadle and Jill Barber was a lot of fun, with great audiences from Brisbane to Melbourne. Here's a picture from the Brisbane Jazz Club, the first gig of the tour.

Brad Child Quartet at Dome Bar and Restaurant, Surry Hills

4th October

Marrickville Community Jazz Band

I've been part of the Marrickville Community Jazz Band, led by the incredible Richard Maegraith on tenor saxophone. We've been performing a run of free Sunday gigs outside the post office in Marrickville.

Band is:

Richard Maegraith - Tenor Sax
Dave Panichi - Trombone
Pug Waples - Drums
and myself on Organ.

Our last performance is this coming Sunday.

My Trio live at Jazzgroove/505 - April 2012

This my tune called "Golden Orb"

Credits - Gigs and Recordings

Sydney Jazz Collective, Dale Barlow, Erroll Buddle, Dave Panichi, Dan Barnett, Lily Dior, Dave Blenkhorn, Brad Child, Slide McBride, Jeremy Sawkins, Steve Brien, Rick Robertson (DIG), James Valentine, Adrian Cunningham, Todd Hardy Quartet, Jo Fabro, Ray Beadle & the Vipers, Marcia Hines, Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel), Blaine Whittaker, Anita Spring, Australian Army Band.

Teaching

Darren teaches classes in Piano, Organ, Ensemble and Improvisation at the Australian Institute of Music in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia.

Endorsements

Darren is an endorsee of Nord Musical Instruments, Sweden. He gigs with their Stage 2 88 Piano

Awards

Unsigned Artist Of The Month - Keyboard Magazine (USA) - details here.

Artist of the Month - jazzandbeyond.com.au - interview

Jacek Chrostowski Encouragement Award for Jazz Piano

Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) - Young Composers Competition Runner-up.