Jazz Insights: Daryl Sherman

The current pride in the music world of Woonsocket is the talented Daryl Sherman, whose headquarters is centered around New York City these days. She has replaced the late spectacular jazz pianist Dave McKenna, who enjoyed the title for most of his long career before he passed away in 2010.

Daryl is the daughter of the late Woonsocket trombonist Sammy Sherman. While growing up and attending Woonsocket High School, she took piano lessons from her dad. Later she found additional training that propelled her to professional status as an excellent entertainer. Her personality and high singing voice supplemented her piano skills and separate her from other female performers.

Daryl’s long career includes important gigs with an impressive list of famous musical performers including Blossom Dearie, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Artie Shaw, Dick Johnson, Dick Sudhulder and Mike Renzi.

She has been performing quite regularly in England, Germany, Holland and Japan, among other locations, but most of her gigs still happen in greater Manhattan, where she has had long stints in several hotels and jazz clubs that continue to this date.

She performs a couple of times each year here in Rhode Island. Usually she is featured at Sardella’s Restaurant in Newport, Greenvale Winery in Portsmouth and Chan’s Chinese Restaurant in Woonsocket.