Planet Kniffen

An eclectic, forward-thinking jazz ensemble, News from Planet Kniffen showcases the writing of drummer and bandleader Darryl Kniffen. The band emerged in 2018 with Dreamland, an album that showcased their cross-pollinated blend of post-bop and electric fusion. Prior to forming the group, Kniffen (an upstate New York native) studied at Crane School of Music, and embarked on a lucrative freelance and teaching career. Along with leading his own jazz groups, he has performed with such artists as Emmy Award-winning guitarist/composer Freddy Shehad, Chilean vocalist Natalia Bernal, pianist/composer Eugene Uman, saxophonist Alex Foster, and others. Away from performing, he continues to work in education, teaching music courses at Arlington Memorial Middle and High School in Arlington, Vermont, and instructing the Jazz Ensemble at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, New York. In 2016, he was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year from the University of Vermont. In 2017, Kniffen formed his News from Planet Kniffen sextet as an outlet for his expansive compositional style, weaving in bits of jazz, rock, soul, and more. Joining him were several longtime associates, including trumpeter Dylan Canterbury, saxophonist Matthew Steckler, guitarist Shaun McCarthy, pianist Franz Robert, and bassist Jason Schwartz. After playing a slate of live shows, including appearances at the Easthampton Jazz Festival, Vermont Jazz Center, and Readsboro Arts Festival, they released their debut album, 2018's Dreamland. ~ Matt Collar