Daryl Fleming cut his teeth in the 1990s in the avant-jazz group Water Shed 5Tet, releasing records on the Rastascan and Tautology labels. A change in musical focus was revealed in 2002 with the release of Better the Parcel than the Post, the first recording by his group Daryl Fleming & the Public Domain (named best local CD of 2002 by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). Borrowing liberally from historical sources—both music and text—Fleming dubs the approach “pan-temporal songwriting,” and says “the music is syncretistic in nature and never devolves into anachronism.”
Continuing to perform and record in a wide variety of musical settings, he also acted in Bricolage Theater Co.’s production of David Turkel’s Holler (2005), twice gave dramatic readings for the Carnegie Foundation’s American Shorts series (2006 and 2008), and in 2006--2007, wrote and performed in a multi-media stage show—presented at the Andy Warhol Museum and at Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ Media Tonic II festival—that deals with themes in the political economy of the early U.S. republic.
With both the Ben Opie-led Water Shed 5tet and the Fuel Can Trio (with Ravish Momin) he appeared at NYC’s Knitting Factory. Water Shed 5Tet also appeared several times at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Arts and Mellon Jazz Festivals. At the CAPA performing arts theater in 2008, Fleming played in an ensemble led by composer/saxophonist and MacArthur Genius Grant-recipient Anthony Braxton.
In 2006, as a member of Eden McNutt’s improv ensemble Dust and Feathers, he played the world premiere of San Francisco-based Gino Robair’s experimental opera, I, Norton, at Pittsburgh’s Hazlett Theater.
With the Public Domain, he opened for blues artist John Hammond, Jr. at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Hall (2010), and collaborated/performed with the dance company Attack Theater (2010).
Fleming recently composed a score for the 1920 silent film Huckleberry Finn, the first feature-length film adaptation of the Twain classic, preserved in 2007 by George Eastman House. Backed by the Public Domain, the score was performed live at the film’s screening at the Andy Warhol Museum and is slated for the same in June, 2011, at the Eastman House’s Dryden Theatre.
The players in the Public Domain are Justin Brown (bass), Megan Williams (violin and vocals), Evan Knauer (lap steel), and Stu Braun (harmonica). Occasional and past contributors include Dave Bernabo (piano), Korel Tunador (accordion and vocals), Jim DiSpirito (drums and percussion), John Purse (guitar), Michael Goodis (producer and noises), Vince Camut (pedal steel), Jesse Prentiss (guitar, bass, vocals), Tracy Mortimore (bass), and Roger Day (tuba).
Discography
Water Shed Duck Bill Hammer (Popbus 10, 1993)
Water Shed 5tet Blue Plate Tectonics (Rastascan Records, 1996)
The Crawlin Low Band The Crawlin Low Band (CLP, 1998)
Water Shed 5tet Circuit Breaker (Tautology, 1999)
The Crawlin' Low Band Tales of a Tub (CLP, 1999)
Water Shed 5tet Live at Mr. Small's (OMP, 2000)
Daryl LeRoi Fleming Better the Parcel than the Post (Gene Hackmann Music, 2002)
Daryl Fleming & the Public Domain The Fable of the Bees (Gene Hackmann Music, 2006)
Daryl LeRoi Fleming The Blockhouse & Bloodhound Session (Sort Of Records, 2008)
Over the years there have been many contributions to compilations and albums by other artists.
