Articles

Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.

INTERVIEW September 7, 2020

Dena Derose: Keeper Of The Song

Dena DeRose has established a reputation as one of the finest jazz singers today--though never exclusively that. As others have done--Shirley Horn, a predecessor, or Karrin Allyson, a contemporary, among others--DeRose, in addition to her alluring voice, is a highly accomplished pianist who accompanies herself. Often that's in a trio setting, but she easily extends it to larger groups when the situation calls for it. She has ascended to the top of her field in a slow progression. ...

RADIO August 31, 2020

Nothing Like You - A Birthday Shoutout to Dorothy Parker

By Mary Foster Conklin

This week we feature new releases from trumpeter Eddie Henderson, vocalist Allegra Levy, trombonist Emily Asher's Garden Party and drummer John Hollenbeck with birthday shoutouts to Dorothy Parker (pictured), Carolyn Leigh, Adrienne Fenemor, Dinah Washington, Charlie Parker (100!), Alice Coltrane, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Mimi Fox and more. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time of lockdown. Playlist Adrienne Fenemor “Mo' Puddin'" from Mo' Puddin' (Self released) 00:00 George ...

ALBUM REVIEW July 19, 2020

Dena DeRose: Ode to the Road

By Jack Bowers

To those who may have wondered what ever happened to singer / pianist Dena DeRose, the answer is nothing—and everything. DeRose has lived for the last fifteen years in Graz, Austria, where she is professor of jazz voice at the University of Music and the Performing Arts. She still tours frequently, sometimes returning “home" to the states for gigs and / or record dates. Along the way, DeRose has met and befriended a sizable number of talented artists, three of ...

RADIO July 6, 2020

It Might Be You in the Dark - Celebrating Dave Grusin and Big Bill Broonzy

By Mary Foster Conklin

The end of June broadcast included a new single from trombonist and vocalist Aubrey Logan with Hagelslag, plus new releases from the Vanessa Perica Orchestra, with birthday shoutouts to vocalists Madeline Eastman, Tierney Sutton and Gillian Margot, composer and pianist Dave Grusin, harpist Brandee Younger and bluesman Big Bill Broonzy. Playlist Rachel Z “Artemisia" from Room of One's Own (NYC Music) 00:00 Madeline Eastman “Pent Up House" from Can You Hear Me Now? (Mad-Kat Records) 06:32 Cathy Segal-Garcia ...

ALBUM REVIEW April 11, 2016

Dena DeRose: United

By C. Andrew Hovan

Loathe as one might be to admit it, there are far too many singers today who consider themselves jazz vocalists. The fact of the matter is it is far too easy to scat a few lines, come up with some nouveau riche lyrics, and press your album at 45 rpm than to really function as a vital musician that also happens to vocalize. Herein rests the problem, often abetted by the hype that only the media can do far too ...

ALBUM REVIEW December 18, 2008

Dena DeRose: Live at Jazz Standard Volume Two

By Donald Elfman

This is the kind of series that could last forever--pianist Dena DeRose seems to have an endless supply of well- and little-known tunes from the collected songbooks and both the music and performances are timeless. The second set from the same evening that produced Volume One (MAXJAZZ, 2007), this has the same in-the-moment sense of place and, what sounds like a contradiction in terms, a recorded spontaneity. This trio--with DeRose's ever so natural yet seasoned singing and ...

ALBUM REVIEW February 11, 2008

Dena DeRose: Live at The Jazz Standard, Volume One

By Donald Elfman

Dena DeRose continues to dazzle in the simplest ways--she's a gifted and accomplished pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger but there's not a speck of self-importance or pretension as she joyously makes her way through new and old tunes. Her voice has the timbre and range of an Anita O'Day but there's a fresh, clear-headed quality here that speaks of self-confidence. Bassist Martin Wind and drummer Matt Wilson play in the trio of pianist Bill Mays, and bring that same level ...