Life & Work with Darryl Yokley of New York

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darryl Yokley.

Hi Darryl , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to New York in 2009 and quickly established myself as a band leader performing around New York City and the surrounding areas. Since then my band and I have toured nationally and have three albums out- The Void (2012), Pictures at an African Exhibition (2018) and Un Mundo en Soledad (2024). I released two with the record label Truth Revolution Recording Collective, the latter being co-released with my own record label, D-Yokes Records as a way to transition into owning my records and releasing all my music on my own record label. Currently the band and I are expanding our market to other cities in the U.S. as well as exploring performance possibilities abroad as we get ready to go back in the studio and record our fourth album.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road by any means. The most challenging aspects were the financial steadiness of a band that works off and on and trying to live during the downtimes when the band isn’t working as much. Another challenge, and perhaps the biggest one is time—finding time to do the entrepreneurial side of the business, practice my instruments, write music, family obligations as well as just playing other gigs with other musicians.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a saxophonist, but I also play flute and clarinet. I majored in classical saxophone, but do a large majority of my work in jazz. I’ve played in a number of settings from solo performances, orchestra, to Broadway, big band gigs, small groups and as mentioned before, leading my own group, which is what I am most known for.
The thing I am most proud of is the music my band and I create and continue to create. We can play in a wide variety of styles and often time mix and match these styles so we play outside of typical categorizations.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you’re an artist and it seems we can work together I am always open to collaborations. For supporting me please come out to the shows, buy the albums/merchandise, follow me on social media, and spread the word about myself and my band!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darrylyokley.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrylyokleymusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrylyokleymusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yolance2