From Thrift Store Records to Springfield Stages: The Musical World of Seth Darby
Musician Seth Darby is thirty-four years old and has played gigs for twenty years. How did such a musical career come about? And at such a young age? “When I was fourteen, my parents would drop me off at bars to play gigs where I learned how to play, how to behave.” Now Seth is an established part of not only the Springfield jazz scene, but also varied genres from string bands, country music, and western swing.
He established an early and eclectic musical competence at home. “There were always instruments around the house.” His father was part of the burgeoning folk music scene of the 1960s and '70s and eventually collected a variety of instruments. “My dad actually built instruments, such as dulcimers.” He recalls one of his father's albums, American Garage, a musical style Seth describes as “soft orchestrated jazz rock.” So, the budding musician came by his wide-ranging musical interests honestly, nurtured nearly from birth.
He says that in the fifth grade, “We were made to take a musical aptitude test. I was told to play the trombone.” He still does today, along with a variety of other instruments, such as the stand up bass and guitar.
Naturally, accomplished musicians listen to music. As a child: “I bought all sorts of records at thrift stores, sometimes for a dime a piece. The music of Louis Armstrong influenced me, as well Dixieland, jump blues, R&B, and gospel.”
When asked his favorite kind of music, he says, “Depends on what instrument I'm playing. Western and country music is based on improvisation, such as taking short solos. To me, that's jazz. Swing music has a two-beat feel that came out of ragtime, a close cousin to jazz.” His principal jazz instrument? The stand up bass.
How to aptly describe Seth's musical bearings? Eclectic, all-encompassing, broad-based, diverse. While living in Lubbock, Texas, for example, he played hip-hop as well as jazz, and also studied audio engineering. But, he admits, “musical arranging is generally above my pay grade.” One must wonder, however, if that is actually true, given his many talents. Yet, he firmly says, “I don't have the acumen to play be-bop,” the style pioneered by Dizzy Gillespie and Charley Parker, among others.
Music can have its occupational hazards. “While playing a month-long gig at Silver Dollar City, some joint deterioration set in. I had to transition from the stand up bass for a time. Rest a bit.” Then there was the year-long Branson gig when he played shows each day at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. “It was strenuous. I tried to imitate others' styles and lost a part of myself. I want to sound like me, develop my own voice.” And the travel. “I once lived in Nashville in a travel trailer sitting in someone's back yard. Trying to stay with music can sometimes be difficult.”
In Springfield, jazz is Seth's mainstay. Appreciative crowds follow him. “There is some kind of jazz nearly every night at Hold Fast Brewery, Wherehouse, The Dugout, to name a few. Those gigs are a subset of our music community. For example, at Hold Fast a symbiosis happens each Tuesday night.” He goes on to say about Springfield in general, “There are an inordinate number of excellent players. I just like the people so much, both listeners and players.”
Seth cites some of his jazz influences: Wes Montgomery, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Chet Baker. “There is so much mystical thinking about the old players. To promote their work is sometimes difficult these days. They had to struggle and practice just as we do.” He says he is especially influenced by famous Missouri jazz players – guitarist Pat Metheny and bassist Charlie Haden. “I hear Ozark influences in Haden's playing.”
After twenty years of gigs, Seth says, “I appreciate the people I play with. I consider myself a musician who hangs with jazz musicians. I like the lifestyle. I feel enriched. Anything to bring people together. In this time of chaos and division, I want to foster some kind of level playing field.”
A level playing field indeed, as both players and audiences who experience Seth Darby's playing and singing – in any gig – are always aware of how they are elevated by his talent.
Follow Seth Darby
Written by: Michael Pulley
Michael Pulley is a writer based in Springfield, Missouri, known for his novels, short stories, and columns in the Springfield News-Leader. His 2023 novel, When All Else Fails, follows a family's journey through faith and societal pressures, blending humor with darker themes in a seamless narrative.
Get your copy of When All Else Fails.