Take Five With Dennis Moss

Meet Dennis Moss: Dennis Moss is a Seattle-based jazz guitarist. He has performed for many private events and has performed in venues such as McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center, Soundbridge Music Discovery Center at Benaroya Hall, Legion Hall, VIRGINIA V Historic Ship and PONCHO Hall. Dennis currently leads his own groups, performs as a solo artist, teaches guitar privately, and presents jazz guitar clinics.

Dennis earned a Bachelor of Music (jazz guitar performance) from Cornish College of the Arts. As a Cornish student, he studied with noted jazz artists such as Chuck Deardorf, Dawn Clement, Julian Priester and Jovino Santos Neto. Dennis earned multiple talent- based scholarships and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Dennis is a finger-stylist and he plays the seven-string guitar. His ability to take on multiple roles (combining melody, harmony and bass lines) simultaneously makes him a perfect fit for solo and small ensemble performances. Dennis' playing style is very lyrical and his sound is warm and engaging. His music is great for both background ambiance and situations where the music takes center stage.

Instrument(s): guitar

Teachers and/or influences? My favorite guitarists are Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall and Pat Martino. Other influences include McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, and Paul Desmond.

Your sound and approach to music: I have a "complete player" approach to music. Many guitarists are great soloists, but few can effectively support their own solos harmonically. I strive to seamlessly combine melody and harmony much like a pianist. I prefer to perform as a soloist or as part of a duo or trio.

Did you know... I'm left-handed which is kind of unusual among jazz guitarists.

Desert Island picks:

Kenny Burrell - 'Round Midnight

Jim Hall - Live

Paul Desmond Featuring Jim Hall - Take Ten

Nancy King - Live At Jazz Standard with Fred Hersch

Antonio Carlos Jobim and Eli Regina - Elis & Tom

What is in the near future? I'm planning to release an album this year. It will include both standards and originals. There will be variety in the instrumentation and the album will feature some of Seattle's best jazz artists.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a: I would have to say that I'd be a musician in another genre, an artist or a chef (something creative).