Don Aliquo Quintet feat. Shawn & Darden Purcell

Don Aliquo’s playing has been described as “smooth as silk...with an unfailing feel for breath and phrasing" while extremely supple in the addressing of his axe but always zeroed in on what he's describing”. “Growth” his newest release, explores new territory with intriguing compositions and ample solo space for Aliquo’s inspired improvisations. The eight originals are both complex and open, which shows him expanding his boundaries not only as an instrumentalist and improviser, but also as a composer. The music is an electrifying modern outing with one foot in the future and one in the tradition.

Aliquo has released six solo projects and has worked collaboratively or performed as a sideman on many others. His previous solo cd “Sun and Shield” features veteran jazz masters Rufus Reid, Jim McNeely, and the dynamic Obed Calvaire. Notable collaborations include a duo recording with eclectic pianist Michael Jefry Stevens and quartet recordings with Roger Humphries and the late Beegie Adair. He also has recorded with his mentor, notable Pittsburgh tenor stalwart, Don Aliquo Sr. on the MCG label.

Don has performed in concerts and recordings with many world-class artists including Gary Burton, Greg Osby, Rufus Reid, Roger Humphries, Harold Danko, Adam Nussbaum, Donald Brown, Pete Christlieb, Scott Robinson, and Bobby Shew. Don is Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. He is a Selmer and Vandoren artist.

Darden Purcell, a Washington D.C. based jazz vocalist, is an active featured soloist with symphony orchestras, big bands and small ensembles, band leader and vocal instructor. Ms. Purcell has shared the stage with many top jazz artists including Maria Schneider, Joe Locke, Christian McBride, Branford Marsalis, Eric Alexander, Terell Stafford, Eddie Daniels, Jim Pugh, Chip McNeill, Chuchito Valdes, Dana Hall, Alan Baylock, Don Heitler, Glenn Wilson, Stockton Helbing, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, US Navy Commodores, Naval Academy Big Band Next Wave, Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra and the American Festival Pops Orchestra (Tony Maiello) just to name a few. Dr. Purcell is the Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice instructor and Director of the Downbeat award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at George Mason University. She has performed at concert halls and clubs nationally and internationally, including Club Bonafide (NYC), Blues Alley (Washington DC), Aalt Stadhaus (Luxembourg), Pops for Champagne (Chicago), The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis), The Blue Wisp (Cincinatti), The Kitchen Cafe (Dallas), The Bop Stop (Cleveland), Con Alma (Pittsburgh), JazzB (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Sandler Center (VA Beach Symphony, back-up vocals for Ben Folds) Meyerhoff Center (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts (National Symphony Orchestra) and The Kennedy Center (back-up vocals for Mr. George Benson, Sara Bareilles and Caroline Shaw).

Ms. Purcell is a former Washington DC Air Force Band vocalist, with the groups High Flight and the Airmen of Note, performing nationally and internationally. Purcell performed back-up vocals for nationally renowned recording artists, Chaka Khan, BeBe Winans, Bryan White, Lari White, Janie Frickie, Freda Payne, Sherrie Payne, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore and Rita Coolidge as well as a televised performance behind Darlene Love on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

In addition to her active performing schedule, Dr. Purcell is a sought-after jazz educator. She has been a guest artist/clinician/conductor at Capital University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Southern Nazarene University, Tiffin University, Indiana State School Music Association, Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA), ACDA Southern Region conference and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Jazz festivals. Her students have won “Outstanding soloist" and “Outstanding Musicianship" awards at collegiate festivals as well as Downbeat Student Music Awards. The Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble has shared the stage with the Manhattan Transfer, the New York Voices, and ACCENT. They were awarded “Outstanding Ensemble" at the Kansas City Jazz Summit, were chosen as a featured collegiate ensemble at the 2018 (Dallas) and 2024 (New Orleans) JEN conferences. In 2023, the MJVE won a DownBeat Student Music Award for "Outstanding Performance - Undergraduate College Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble."

Darden has presented internationally at the Institute for Jazz Research "Jazz Voices" conference in Graz, Austria. She performed at Projecto GURI and JazzB (Sao Paulo, Brazil), through a George Mason University Global Grant. Spring 2024, she traveled to Luxembourg with Mason Jazz faculty to perform at present and the Differdange Music School "JazzDAYS" festival.

"world-class interpreter of lyrics who swings at every tempo" - Scott Yanow, Jazz journalist, historian and author

Dr. Shawn Purcell, originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator based in the Washington DC region. Purcell has shared the stage, recorded with, and/or toured with Walt Weiskopf, Pat Bianchi, Regina Carter, Steve Fidyk, Chip McNeill, Sean Jones, Steve Allee, Brian Charette, Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Lucas Pino, Peter Erskine, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra, Eddie Daniels, National Symphony Orchestra and many others. Purcell has appeared at jazz venues and festivals around the globe. His performance credits include legendary venues like The Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Smalls, Chris’ Jazz Café, The Jazz Kitchen, The Bop Stop, Con Alma, Sharp 9 Gallery, Keystone Korner Baltimore, JazzB in São Paulo and Aalt Stadhaus in Luxembourg as well as major festivals such as Umbria Jazz Festival, Ancona Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Fest, Indy Jazz Fest and Savannah Jazz Festival.​

As a recording artist, Purcell’s guitar work can be heard on nearly 40 albums with Chip McNeill, Steve Fidyk, Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, Ben Patterson Group, Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, The Capitol Bones, Mike Tomaro Big Band and multiple releases by vocalist Darden Purcell, including her latest release Love’s Got Me In a Lazy Mood (OA2 Records). His debut as a bandleader, Symmetricity, was released in 2019 on Armored Records, followed by 180, released on Origin Records in 2022. His latest 2025 Origin Records album, Oblivity, features saxophone great Walt Weiskopf.

​Purcell dedicated over 20 years as a member of the military big bands in Washington DC. From 1996-2004, Purcell was the guitarist in the US Air Force jazz ensemble, The Airmen of Note. During his time with “The Note,” Purcell performed in England, Germany, Turkey, Luxembourg, The Azores, Belgium, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Kuwait, and Bahrain. He recently finished his tenure as the guitarist with the Washington DC based US Navy Band “Commodores” jazz ensemble.

As an educator, Purcell currently serves as adjunct professor of jazz guitar, jazz combos and jazz arranging at George Mason University. He has served on the jazz faculty at West Viriginia University, Towson University, Middle Tennessee State University, and was a Visiting Lecturer in Jazz Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, under the direction of David Baker. He has led master classes at major universities throughout the country and has served on the faculty for camps such as Mason Jazz Camp, National Jazz Workshop, Maryland Summer Jazz Camp, JazzWire Summer Summit, and National Guitar Workshop. Purcell has penned educational articles for Premier Guitar, Jazz Guitar Life, and DownBeat Magazine.

"With this collection of originals played by a group of great musicians, Shawn Purcell shows his mastery and maturity as player and composer of the highest level. The tunes are varied and very well crafted, and Shawn shows his great range as a guitarist. This is a beautiful collection of musical stories!!" - Peter Bernstein

This show is 21 and over only. All sales are final and we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds. Additional tickets may be available at the door on the day of the show even if it is sold out online. All food and beverage items are priced separately.

Doors open at 6pm for our 6:30pm show and 8:45pm for our 9pm show. Please try to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the show start time. If you do not arrive within 45 minutes after the show start time on your ticket your seat may be resold to other patrons at the door. If you arrive after 45 minutes from the start time of the show and your ticket has been resold, although we cannot guarantee it, we will try our best to make space for you to attend the show.

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