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Dennis Adu

Dennis Adu was born in 1987, May 8 in Saltpond (Ghana). When he was 2 years old his family moved to Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. He started playing the trumpet when he was 7, and when he turned 8 he was invited to Alexander Gebel Orchestra.

Dennis participated in such international festivals and competitions like “Millau en Jazz” (France), “Fel du Sher” (France), “Jazz A Vienne” (Viena), Alfa Jazz Fest (Ukraine) and many others.

In 2007 Adu won the “Do#Dж Junior” (The Best Trumpet Player), in 2009 on this competition he became the winner in nominations “The Best Musician in Ukraine” and “The Best Arrangement of Jazz Standard”.

Dennis took lessons from Alex Sipiagin and Joe Magnarelli. He played with Ku-umba Frank Lacy, Gregory Porter, Curtis Fuller, Jim Rotondi, Roy and Ofer Assaf, Steve Slagle, Javon Jackson, Larry Willis, Quincy Davis, Dana Hall, Jason Brown, Jimmy Bosch, Mitch Froman, Pete Nater Frankie Vasquez, Wayne Escoffery, Michael Dease, Mambo Legends Orchestra, Seamus Blake, John Hollenbeck, and other.

Since 2012 he leads the Quintet, Sextet, Septet and Big Band.

Awards

Michael Dease Big Band: Return Trajectory

Read "Return Trajectory" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
July 3, 2026

While it is not true that a photo of Michael Dease appears in Webster's dictionary next to the word “versatile," the metaphor does not seem too far-fetched once one considers the many tasks Dease carries out on his latest recording, Return Trajectory. Not only does Dease lead his big band, he wrote three of the album's half-dozen themes, solos on trombone on four, baritone sax on the other two (unaccompanied on his composition “Up South"). Rumor has it that he ...

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Ukrainian Jazz Media: Unwavering Service

by Ian Patterson
January 24, 2026

Though the history of jazz in Ukraine dates back to the second decade of the 20th Century, jazz media in Ukraine was slower to develop. While this article's primary focus is on today's jazz journalists, independent proselytizers and advocates, it would be remiss not to mention some of those who paved the way. Several figures have been key in developing Ukrainian jazz media and promoting jazz nationally and internationally. Prominent among these is Leonid Goldstein, who celebrated his ...

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Dennis Adu: Tereza

by Ian Patterson
February 25, 2025

Trumpeter, composer and bandleader Dennis Adu is a key figure on Ukraine's jazz scene, not just as an outstanding musician but also as an educator. Whether leading small ensembles or big bands, Adu has a penchant for arranging intricate, harmonically appealing multiple horn parts. “Tereza," from his album Sunlight Above the Sky (LableWhoAble, 2021 ) is a great illustration of the warmth in both Adu's arranging and (from minute 02.14) his playing. The septet on this track features Boris Mogylevskiy ...

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A Brief Guide To Ukrainian Jazz: Part 1

by Ian Patterson
February 24, 2025

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 The history of jazz in Ukraine can be traced fairly precisely according to academic, literature teacher and jazz journalist Alexander Yudin. Writing in The History Of European Jazz: The Music, Musicians And Audience in Context (Equinox Publishing, 2018), Yudin credits Yuliy Meitus with leading the country's first jazz band. Meitus' band, which consisted of vibraphone, violin, drums and percussion, reportedly gave the first jazz ...