Darryl Evan Jones: The Fluteman, Ambassador of Instrumental Soul New Album “Resilient” Serenades Listeners into Musical Bliss!  

Darryl Evan Jones, the Fluteman, delivers an enchanting experience as an ambassador of instrumental soul with his new album, “Resilient Serenades. 

INTERVIEW BY: GINA SEDMAN, WRITER/JOURNALIST & HEAD EDITOR 

Step into the captivating world of Instrumental Soul, where the rich, timeless melodies of the flute come alive through the extraordinary talent of Darryl Evan Jones. With a style that pays homage to the trailblazers of contemporary jazz—such as Tim Weisberg and Hubert Laws—Jones elevates the flute’s presence in modern music, blending its classical charm with soulful expression. 

A true visionary, Darryl brings a refreshing and soulful take on this often-underappreciated instrument, captivating audiences with his melodic mastery and harmonious brilliance. His performances aren’t just concerts; they’re journeys, transporting listeners into a world where music speaks the language of the soul. 

With a passion for pushing musical boundaries, Darryl introduces a new generation to the beauty and depth of the flute’s voice in jazz and instrumental soul. His music carries listeners through a lush soundscape, inviting them to feel the emotion, rhythm, and vibrancy in every note. 

Get ready to experience the transformative power of Darryl Evan Jones, a master musician whose commitment to creating an unforgettable auditory experience makes each performance a ride you won’t want to miss. 

I had the privilege of speaking with this incredibly talented artist, and he graciously shared insights into his creative journey, his passion for music, and the impact he hopes to make on the world. Here’s what he had to say. 

Gina: Hi Darryl, how are you? 

Darryl: It’s going well, thank you. 

Gina: That's awesome! Thank you so much for agreeing to speak with me today. 

Darryl: Likewise. It's good to meet you. Look at all the instrumentation you've got there. 

Gina: Oh yeah, I'm a bass player, and the keyboard is just for messing around. I come up with little things every now and then. 

Darryl: You sound like me. I've got a keyboard here too, and I know just enough to be dangerous. 

Gina: I hear you. I can't play fluently, but I have a good ear for music, so I do enough. But, Darryl, again, it's so nice to meet you. I'm excited to talk to you a little bit about your career and your new music. 

Darryl: Thank you. I'm glad to be here, I really am. 

Gina: Awesome. So, where were you born, and where do you currently reside? 

Darryl: I’m a South Bronx, NY native, born and raised, and I’m very proud of that. At 20, I don’t want to say I “escaped” New York, but my whole family left and moved to suburban South Jersey. And wow, what a culture shock that was! 

I’ve moved around a lot since then. I wouldn’t call any one place “home” per se, but I’m not quite a nomad either. Currently, I’m in Tennessee. I left New Jersey, but I kept my New Jersey phone number because cell phones didn’t exist when I was in the Bronx. Once I got a number, I kept it, because you never know who might be trying to reach out. 

Gina: That’s wise, Darryl. Awesome. So, being from the South Bronx, how did your upbringing influence your musical journey as an outstanding flutist? What role did music play in shaping your path away from the streets? 

Darryl: Growing up in the South Bronx with two parents from the South—my dad from Carolina and my mom from Virginia—they initially tried to shield us from a lot of music. I grew up in a religious household. It was church music all the time. But then my mother was a huge Kenny Rogers fan. She loved Kenny Rogers, and to this day, I still love his music. 

My father, on the other hand, listened to everyone from George Benson to Chet Atkins. My brothers and I would sneak in everything from Parliament Funkadelic, Chaka Khan, Cameo, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Stevie Wonder. 

By the time we moved to the North Bronx, the Bronx was already the birthplace of hip-hop. We even knew some members of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. On top of all that, I was classically trained, so I had all these musical influences going into my ears and brain. You can’t help but be influenced by that, and I have no regrets. 

Gina: Wow, that’s amazing! Your style has been compared to a blend of instrumental soul, jazz, classical, and gospel. You’re also considered the "Ambassador of Instrumental Soul," which you truly are. Can you tell me how you developed your unique fusion and what inspired you to express emotions through the flute? 

Darryl: The different genres of music I was exposed to helped me naturally create my sound. It wasn’t a deliberate attempt to mix various styles together—it’s just the true expression of who I am as an artist. 

I’m classically trained, and while classical music is the foundation of all Western music, for me, it was too disciplined, almost confining. There’s literally no room for self-expression. You can express yourself if you want, but you won’t be doing it for long! I wanted more freedom in my music. 

I wasn’t formally trained in jazz either but having played in various places where I was allowed to express myself, I found that freedom of expression became the staple of my sound. Over time, it just all came together. 

Gina: That’s great, Darryl! I’d love to see a day when artists are just free to create and not confined to rigid categories. Artists should express their uniqueness, the gifts that God gave them, without being another carbon copy of someone else. 

Darryl: I’m glad you said that because I really couldn’t have expressed it as well as you just did. There are so many layers that make me who I am. For starters, I’m proudly and humbly a Christian. 

Gina: Really? That’s awesome! You’re my brother in Christ! How amazing is that! The Indie Post Magazine is a Christian business, so you can openly share your faith here. No censorship. I’m a born-again Christian too, and Jesus is Lord of my life. I proclaim it loudly! So, anyone who is a Christian, you don’t have to be ashamed to profess your relationship with Christ here. 

Darryl: Gina, yes! I officially and formally declare that I have a relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I’m one of those people who, regardless of the platform, will express my faith. If people don’t want me to speak about my Lord, then I shouldn’t be there because I’ll say it anyway. Whether it’s friendly or hostile to my faith, I’ll still say it. 

I truly believe this thing we call music is what my Lord commissioned me to do, and I take it very seriously. The ability to express myself through music and touch people, whether they realize it or not, is all done through the love of Jesus Christ. Whether they know it or not, they’ll find out! That’s my assignment, and I’m both humbled and glad to do it. 

Gina: That’s wonderful to hear! I believe it’s essential to connect with others through the unique gifts that God has given you, whether you’re a doctor, a lawyer, or a musician. Each role is a vocation in its own right, just like teaching. Wherever God places you, your mission is to shine brightly in the midst of darkness.  

However, it’s crucial to avoid being sidetracked by negative influences associated with your gift. Stay true to your faith and resist the temptation to conform to worldly standards, as Christ calls us to be distinct. You can certainly thrive in your talent while being a beacon in challenging environments. Ultimately, it’s not about the genre you choose; it’s about your identity. The Bible reminds us to let our thoughts and words be pleasing to God, which extends to our conversations. I often tell people that music is simply a dialogue, layered with melody. If I wouldn’t express something in my everyday discussions, I won’t include it in my music either. 

Darryl: That’s right. Although I’m not here to knock anyone, oftentimes I hear something that’s called music, and to my ear, it’s just sound. To me, whether there are lyrics or not, music is supposed to convey thought and emotion. One of the things I love is that my amazingly talented supporting cast, my A-Team, from producers to musicians and everyone else—when I write a song and people hear it, those who really listen are hearing conversations between the instruments. 

That’s what it’s meant to be to me. I want them to pay attention and hear the conversation. Now, in saying that, two different people may not hear the exact same conversation, but that’s not wrong. I’m just glad they’re listening to the conversation at all. 

Gina: Absolutely. That’s beautiful, Darryl. Now, you’ve performed on stages like the Canon Center and the Capital Jazz Fest, and you’ve opened for artists like Boney James and Howard Hewett. That’s quite impressive—congratulations! What would you say are some of the most memorable experiences in your career thus far? 

Darryl: Thank you. One of the most memorable moments was when I opened for Jeff Lorber. I was so intimidated because it was Jeff Lorber, for crying out loud! But not only did he give me his stamp of approval, but it was also the first standing ovation I’d ever received from an audience. 

Gina: That’s beautiful, Darryl. God bless you. 

Darryl: Thank you. Just knowing that it was Jeff Lorber’s audience made it even more amazing. Another memorable moment was when Marion Meadows invited me on stage to play with him and his band. I’ll never forget that. 

The third great experience was when I went to a Jeffrey Osborne concert. Whenever he performs the song “You Should Be Mine” (AKA the “Woo, Woo, Woo” song), he likes to come down into the audience with a cordless mic and get people to sing that part. 

I happened to have my flute with me, and Jeffrey let me play a solo. When I finished, it sounded like a basketball game—almost 3,000 people were chanting my name. I’ll never forget that! 

Gina: That’s so awesome! You deserved every bit of it because you’re super talented. Speaking of talent, you have an incredible new album out called Resilient. Can you tell me about it? 

Darryl: Yes, Resilient is, in many ways, the follow-up to Relentless, though they’re about ten years apart. 

The titles and themes are similar, focusing on motivation. Both albums are about positivity and motivation because none of us makes this journey alone, whatever your journey is. Relentless is about the tireless pursuit, and Resilient is about the ability to recover from the pitfalls of that pursuit. I was very happy with Relentless, but I’m even happier with Resilient. 

As its popularity grows, people are really feeling this album, and it’s amazing to see how God is unfolding so many things, opening doors, and bringing the right people into my life. I’m often literally giddy, but I’m so proud of this project. 

Gina: That’s wonderful! Can you tell me about the people involved in the album—who produced it and where people can find it? 

Darryl: Sure. I had four producers on this project. Adam Hawley co-wrote and produced On the Run, and Gavin Newsom produced The Grind. 

Now, just so everyone knows, this is not the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom—he’s a producer from Tennessee. (laughs) 

Gina: (laughs) Right, not the governor! 

Darryl: Exactly! I wanted to clarify that. (laughs) Another producer goes by the nickname Taz—his real name is Cortez Fields. He’s a drummer, producer, arranger, and mix engineer. Then there’s Alphonso Desselle from Fort Washington, MD, who produced most of the album. He’s also a keyboardist. 

On guitar, we have Steve Bethany, and Alex Rogers played bass guitar. There are a few other incredible musicians involved as well. 

One of the biggest blessings to this project was having Jerrod “J-Rod” Sullivan play on most of the tracks. He’s Jeffrey Osborne’s and Janet Jackson’s touring drummer, and he’s also a dear friend of mine. 

As for where people can find the album, for those who still buy physical CDs, they’re available exclusively on my website: www.dejmusic.com. Resilient is also available digitally on all streaming  and download platforms. People can search for me online by typing my name, Darryl Evan Jones, into any search engine. 

Gina: Awesome! And where can people find your performance schedule? Is that posted on your website too? 

Darryl: Yes, that’s correct. 

Gina: Perfect. One last question before we close out: If you could give any words of wisdom to up-and-coming artists, what would you say to them? 

Darryl: Something I always try to share with everyone, especially younger musicians, is that when we’re on stage, we’re who the people come to see and hear. But it’s important to remember that, while we’re the focal point, it’s not about us. 

First and foremost, it’s about God through Jesus Christ. That’s first. Secondly, it’s about the people sitting out there. It’s not about you—it’s about being a vessel. We didn’t create the talent ourselves; He gave it to us. So, nurture it, be generous with it, and love the people through it. The rewards that come through that gift will be immeasurable. 

Gina: That’s awesome. It’s been an honor to interview you today. My prayer is that God will bless the work of your hands and guide you according to His will. I pray that He will bless you and your beautiful family, surround you with people of integrity, and keep you safe in your travels. I’m proud of you for all you’ve accomplished, but most of all, for being a man of God and standing for Christ in this industry. I’m rooting for you, Darryl. God bless you. 

Darryl: God bless you, Gina, and thank you. 

Gina: My pleasure.