Darren is a Jazz Pianist/Composer/Educator, Keyboard Session Musician, & a Modular Synthesist - based in Christchurch NZ.
His current main project is ‘Darren Pickering Small Worlds’, a cinematic contemporary jazz quartet - acting as vehicle for his many compositions & current compositional style.
Some of the notable musicians he has performed and toured with include; International Jazz Artists Gordon Brisker(USA), Dick De Graf(Holland), William Parker(USA), Raed Yassin(Lebanon), Bobby Shew(USA), Jamie Oehlers(AUS), Iain Ballamy(UK), Tom Warrington(USA). Nationally Renowned Recording Artists Julia Deans, LA Mitchell, Mark Vanilau, Whirimako Black, Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Anna Coddington.
Darren’s keyboard/piano playing & compositions/songwriting also feature on Studio Albums such as Shapeshifter ‘Stars’, Pacific Heights ‘The Stillness’, Julia Deans ‘Modern Fables’, Oakley Grenell ‘The Deep’, Cairo Knife Fight ‘Iron‘, The Tiny Lies ‘The Oaks They Will Blow’, Departure Lounge ‘In Session’, Sacha Vee ‘Sacha Vee’ & ‘Rising One’ & ‘Luminous’, Oval Office ‘Oval Office’ & ‘Move’ & ‘Don’t Stop’ , Glen Wagstaff ‘Firefly’, Sumo Jazz ‘Shiko’ & ’Throwing Salt’ (finalist 2011 NZ Music Awards – best jazz album).