Darynn Dean

Darynn Dean is a dynamic vocalist, captivating performer, and composer born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Immersed in jazz from an early age, her rich musical lineage traces back to her grandfather, Donald Dean Sr., a world-renowned jazz drummer who toured with Les McCann, Eddie Harris, and Betty Carter. With a distinctive voice and timeless artistry, Darynn has captivated audiences worldwide.

Her most notable performances include appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and International Jazz Day in Abu Dhabi. In 2023, she earned her Master of Music degree from the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, where she studied under the mentorship of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Barbara Morrison, Billy Childs, and other jazz legends.

Darynn’s honors include being named a 2026 Doris Duke and YoungArts Horizon Project Fellow, 2023 First Runner-Up of the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition, a National YoungArts Gold Medalist, a Music Center Spotlight Awards Grand Prize Finalist, and a 2019 participant in Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency at the Kennedy Center. In 2019, she created the documentary All About Love: Jazz + Gender, chronicling the formation of the first-ever all-women’s cross-institutional big band between New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

The film features interviews with prominent artists such as Jason Moran and Terri Lyne Carrington and explores themes of gender justice, equity, and love within the jazz community. Whether performing, composing, or creating, Darynn is committed to using music to foster connection, compassion, and community. As she says, “Right now, more than ever, we need music, love, and unity.”