Cultural Attaché’s Icons 2025 continues with composer/bandleader Darcy James Argue. This summer he gave the world premiere of A Banquet for the Birds at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Argue was joined by the musician for whom it was written, Aaron Diehl, and his trio.
Watching A Banquet for the Birds and the other music performed at this concert was just one more example of how innovative and adventurous Darcy James Argue is. His albums, under the name Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, include Dynamic Maximum Tension, Real Enemies, Brooklyn Babylon and Infernal Machines, showcase exactly how unique his approach to music is.
I spoke with Argue about A Banquet for the Birds which is inspired by Emily Wilson’s translation of the Iliad by Homer. In our conversation he talked about the musicality of her translation (as voiced by Audra McDonald in the audiobook he listened to), his writing to text that will not be heard in the piece and about some of the surprising influences that find their way into his music.
He’s a regular collaborator with Cécile McLorin Salvant and we discussed his ongoing collaboration with her when we spoke on July 24th. The interview was posted on July 25th.
To read the print version of this interview with Darcy James Argue, which includes a performance video, please go HERE.
Photo: Darcy James Argue in the Cultural Attaché Interview