Darren Motamedy was born in 1959 in Los Angeles, California and is of Iranian and German French-Irish decent. It was not until 1968 while living in Taiwan that Motamedy first realized that he was intrigued with music. “One of my classmates offered to play his clarinet for our class during show and tell when I was in the fourth grade,” Motamedy reminisces. “He squeaked and squawked, and captivated our entire class’s attention with his song. I knew that I wanted to be able to one day play like him.”
It was not until 1969 that Darren’s family moved from Taiwan to Kent, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, that his dream of playing the clarinet would come true. Darren played in the school band and also studied privately. Motamedy elected to focus his energy playing the saxophone, clarinet, and flute at Central Washington University, a school renowned for its extensive music department. He continued studying the clarinet with one of America’s premier clarinetist’s, “Raymond Wheeler,” and continued to refine his jazz abilities with National Jazz Educator “John Moawad.”
Motamedy has thrilled his audiences with his music. His first two CD’s while leading, writing, and performing with his group first group “Mottoretti” achieved national success, landing spots on the “AC” charts and the “Jazz” charts as well. In 1995, his solo CD and career were launched with his third album “Dangerously Close”. This album won the “Best Jazz Album” of the year category with Seattle Based KUBE radio station. Soon after the release of “Dangerously Close”, Motamedy was on the road opening for such acts as “Ce Ce Penniston”, “Deneice Williams”, and “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy”. “Peace” was Motamedy’s follow up recording of Holiday Classics, and finally in 1999 Motamedy released “It’s All Good”. “It’s All Good” was a culmination of great songs, excellent production featuring “Kenny G’s” rhythm section, phenomenal art and design, and an “enhanced CD” that features an eleven minute video with Motamedy. This CD also won the 1999 “Jazz Album” of the year with the extra bonus of taking home the trophy over jazz greats “Dianne Shuur and Kenny G”.
“It’s All Good” helped Motamedy to be the ambassador of music to Taiwan during the 2000 Northwest Culture Celebration in Taipei Taiwan.
“The Best of Taste” theme music is just one of eleven new songs that make up Motamedy’s 2002 release “Relax Your Mind” features 11 great new songs.. Also featured on this new record is a fantastic rendition of “Yesterday” by the Beattle’s and “The World is a Ghetto” by War along with nine other originals by Motamedy. “Relax Your Mind” hit the jazz in February, 2002.