June 2001
Philly Jazz
Archive
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Denise King Sings Like Satin Doll
By Donald True Van Deusen
Denise King sings pop and jazz standards with touches of the blues, soul
and even gospel in a voice steeped in a sophisticated, swinging, sometimes
soulful, satin style much like one of her idols, Sara Vaughan. Born and
reared in Philadelphia, Ms King will be showcasing her singular talents with
her quintet at Zanzibar Blue, Broad & Walnut Streets, May 25-26 at 9 & ll
P.M. for a $10 cover. Call (215) 732-05200.
Her group includes: Aaron Graves, piano; Lee Smith, bass; Lucky Thompson,
drums; Sam Reed, tenor-alto sax and Napoleon Black, percussion; a winning
hand in any jazz club.
A singer, who cares about the song, Ms King said: "I am a sucker for the
lyrics and not interested in vocal gymnastics. I want to hear the story the
writer has to tell." And for this, those who share King"s love of Gershwin
and Porter, can only be thankful. Some of the favorites Ms King will
probably be doing from her three CDs include: The Nearness of You, Poor
Butterfly, Fever, Stolen Moments and Crazy. Her own favorite singers
include: Sarah, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, King Cole, Nancy Wilson, Sinatra
and, yes, even Patsy Cline.
Ms King has sung at almost all the top clubs in Philadelphia and several
in New York, Paris and Japan during the past 15 years. She started in her
thirties and has expanded beyond singing into Denise King Enterprises
producing concerts, records and dates for herself and others.
Among her childhood influences were an uncle's jazz and blues record
collection and Sid Mark's weekly radio marathon of Sinatra stylings. She
says now, simply, "I loved gospel, blues, jazz, pop, Sinatra and R&B stars
such as Ruth Brown and Ko Ko Taylor." She sums it all up saying, "I think I
am a universal spirit." Yes, indeed!
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