Angela Deniro

Angela DeNiro, a native New Yorker, earned her degree in Music, and is a composer and arranger, as well as vocalist. In addition to Angela's jazz singing and scatting abilities, she has also done extensive studio work, with various jingles to her credit. She is currently performing in New York jazz clubs with saxophonist Ron Aprea. Their quintet features Angela scatting along with the alto saxophone, performing the music of jazz greats Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and Duke Ellington, as well as such classic composers as Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, Tad Dameron, and Michel LeGrand.

Ms. DeNiro was the featured opening act at the Seaford Jazz Festival, performing with jazz great Bobby Forrester, and was featured with the Dennis Wilson "All-Star Big Band", whose roster included Jerome Richardson, Benny Powell, Ray Mosca, Earl May, Jimmy Owens, and Spanky Davis. She has performed at the Rainbow Room, and many major New York hotels, and was frequently found rattling the walls at Long Island's favorite jazz club, Sonny's Place.

Her first CD, Just For the Fun Of It, with the Ron Aprea Orchestra, demonstrated that Angela was a singer who was ready to be recognized. Her 1997 recording, Swingin' With Legends, was entered for 1998 GRAMMY nominations in the following categories: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, & Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for Midnight Sun and A Ballad For Matthew.) In addition to the star-studded Ron Aprea Big Band, this recording featured legendary jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Lew Tabakin.

Ms. DeNiro was featured as a GTE Giants of Jazz at the 1998 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, where she and Ron Aprea performed with the Kenny Barron Trio, and with Lionel Hampton and his Big Band, to exuberant audiences that exceeded ten thousand. Angela and Ron joined jazz greats such as Freddie Cole Ethel Ennis, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, and Ernestine Anderson, in helping to musically celebrate Lionel Hampton's 90th birthday. The summer season culminated with a concert at Planting Fields Arboretum in Locust Valley, New York. Angela and Ron were again featured with Lionel Hampton's Big Band, where her performance was greeted with a standing ovation from thousands of exuberant fans.

Ms. DeNiro has been a guest on other CDs as well. She was featured on jazz flutist Jan Leder's album, Nonchalant, and also gave a cameo performance on jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's CD Links, released in 2001 on the High Note Label. Angela can also be heard on Second Floor Music's Sing Jazz.

Angela and her husband, Ron Aprea, co-hosted a weekly jazz radio show on WSHR, 91.9 FM, New York for two years. Their show, Rush -Hour Rendezvous, featured the music of jazz greats old and new, as well as interesting conversation and interviews with legendary jazz artists. In January 2001, Angela performed on" BET-TV". This nationally televised program, "Jazz Discovery" featured vocal and instrumental jazz artists in competition. The panel of three judges included jazz legend Chick Corea...Angela won first prize!

Ms. DeNiro's album, My Shining Hour, was released in August 2005. It features a composition written by her husband saxophonist/ composer/arranger Ron Aprea. The tune, entitled For Phil, is dedicated to Phil Woods, who has been a major source of inspiration to Ron. Angela and Ron are joined on this album by a smokin' rhythm section comprised of Cecilia Coleman on piano, Tim Givens on bass, and Jim Young on drums. Trumpeter Don Sickler and trombonist Scott Whitfield join Ron's alto sax & flute, and strings round out two of the cuts on the album. Oh...Matt Aprea makes his debut in the string section, also. Check it out! Show less