Flame Campaign: Jazz

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A graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music, with a BA in Jazz vocal performance, 22-year-old Darynn Dean is ready to take the world by storm. No stranger to Jazz, her grandfather, Donald Dean Sr., is a renowned drummer (Les McCann, Carmen McCrae and Eddie Harris), her father, Donald Dean Jr., is also a drummer (Kenny Burrell, Rickey Lee Jones), and her cousin, 20-year old Jamael Dean (Kamasi Washington), is an emerging recording and touring piano player. Now, Darynn has set her sights on taking her place in the family legacy, and climbing the imposing mountain of female Jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Dianne Reeves, just to name a few.  “I’ve been fortunate to have been recognized amongst the best in my class at each level. I’m so excited to move forward to my next chapter, and I can’t wait to share the stage with the Jazz greats of my generation,” says Dean.
 
She has shared the Grammy week stage with Dave Koz, Hubert Laws, and Aaron Parks, and received first place in the National Young Arts Foundation, Dolo Coker and NAACP ACT-SO, competitions.  Dean has also completed a residency at the Kennedy Center, mentored by noteworthy jazz artists, Jason Moran and DeeDee Bridgewater. As part of her NEC capstone project, Darynn completed her first feature film documentary, “All About Love: Jazz + Gender”. The film explores women’s participation in Jazz, or lack thereof, and finding your individual ‘love ethic’ that informs your commitment to the art. Keep your eye, and ear, out for Darynn Dean, as she is well on her way to the top!