Musical Stories
Audio and print versions of stories from spoken word/live music groups.
Local Heroes/American Originals
Beyond the Border -
Stories of the Latin World
New Projects
Jazz Stories
Podcasts
Listen to samples of music by and comments about artists playing jazz, Latin, Afropop and other styles, in short audio downloads.
Works in Print
Selected writings about music and culture.
What they’re saying about …
Jazz Stories
“…moving and focused.” — Doug Ramsey, Jazz Times
“…a hip version of Peter and the Wolf.” — Lalo Schifrin
“…Fascinating narratives.” — George Fendel, Jazzscene
What they’re saying about …
Beyond the Border – Stories of the Latin World
” …a wonderfully rich, expressive voice, well paired with Alfredo Muro’s intense guitar.” — Luciana Lopez, Pop Music critic, The Oregonian
” … impressive in terms of its seamless integration of music with story line … Muro’s understated guitar work and brilliant arranging capture the culture of each story’s subject.” — Wayne Thompson, Jazzscene
True stories in an interplay of words and music
Here you’ll find Lynn Darroch’s musical stories, interviews with musicians, and other entertainment and commentary, both audio and written. Listen to tales of Ray Charles, Phil Woods, Chet Baker, Betty Carter, Ruben Blades, Eliades Ochoa and many others. Discover some history or sample Darroch’s comments on contemporary artists and events. And hear the music of
- Randy Porter and David Evans (Local Heroes/American Originals)
- John Stowell and David Evans (Jazz Stories)
- Alfredo Muro and Dave Fischer (Beyond the Border)
- Pere Soto (New Projects)
Darroch’s work is drawn from experience: music journalism for magazines and newspapers (The Oregonian and Jazz Times), cultural history (The Encyclopedia of United States Popular Culture and the Afterword to Jumptown: the Golden Years of Portland Jazz), college teaching and radio broadcasting.
Next Live Performance
On the Radio!
Every Friday, 1-4 pm, on KMHD 89.1 FM (streaming @ kmhd.org). Recorded music plus interviews with musicians performing live in the studio and joining Lynn for musical stories.
February 12 — 2:40 pm
Belinda Underwood joins Lynn for a story.
We’re available for live performances!
- Jazz Stories performances
with Randy Porter (piano) and David Evans (tenor sax)
or John Stowell (guitar) and David Evans (tenor sax).
- Beyond the Border - Stories of the Latin World
performances
with Alfredo Muro (guitar) and Gary Hobbs or Carlton Jackson (percussion).
Contact us.
Venues hosting Jazz Stories and Beyond the Border performances have included: Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival, Wordstock, the Kennedy School, Jimmy Mak’s, RiverPlace Hotel, Borders Books and Music, Portland Public Libraries, KMHD and KBOO radio, The Cave at the Green Onion, Warner Pacific College, and Mt. Hood Community College.
Photos by
Philip Nails (LD head shot)
Brandy Kayzakian-Rowe (RP, DE and LD - b&w)
Douglas Yarrow (Jazz Stories at Woodstock Library)
Pam Jones (Beyond the Border)