July, 2002

Daydreams are often regarded as those stolen moments of mystical reflection when one steps outside of time and plays in the world of imagination. And so it is with Day Dream, a stunning tribute to Billy Strayhorn, stylized by the vocals of Darius de Haas, a veteran of the theater.

"This project started out as a celebration of a composer who has not gotten his due, someone who I could relate to, who was in fact gay and a close associate of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn," says de Haas.
When asked to reflect on the success of this masterful compilation, de Haas replies, "If anything, I'm trying to separate myself from it for a moment. It's kind of like my baby. If people only knew all the things I went through. But I am very proud of it. It's not easily classified… it's a tribute to a composer who I truly love."
When it comes to musical training and preparation for this project, de Haas' credentials read like those of a theater performer several decades his senior. He has appeared in productions such as "Dreamgirls" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," in which he starred with Chita Rivera and later Vanessa Williams. He is no stranger to the Lincoln Center, having performed in the revival of "Carousel" and in "Marie Christine," as well as "Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm" and "Rent."

When asked to define himself, de Haas quickly asserts, "I am a theater performer." Without hesitation, he goes on to say, "I am a black man who is gay. I have been in a relationship that is going on five years. I think it's most important to live with you… to please yourself. I just try to be conscientious. If you can just live your truth… that's all you can do."

"I attribute my success to growing up in a musical family. I have a mother who was focused and driven," says de Haas. In his humility, what de Haas does not share is that his parents were artistic achievers in their own rite. His father, jazz bassist Eddie de Haas, has played with Chet Baker; Miles Davis; Gene Krupa; Blossom Dearie; and Peter, Paul and Mary. His mother, Geraldine de Haas (formerly Bey), starred in Chicago productions of "Hair," "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," and "To be Young, Gifted, and Black." The young de Haas simply says "I have to say I am very loved."