- Dena DeRose
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Dena DeRose 
Dena DeRose at the Litchfield Jazz festival in 2009, taken by Ed NewmanBackground information Born February 15, 1966 Origin Binghamton, New York, United States Genres jazz Occupations pianist, singer and educator Instruments vocals, piano Years active 1985–present Labels Sharp Nine
MAXJAZZAssociated acts Dena DeRose Trio Website www.denaderose.com Dena DeRose (born February 15, 1966) is an American jazz pianist, singer and educator.[1] Although she began her career just as a pianist, medical problems with her hand forced her to become a vocalist as well. She has released seven solo albums.
Contents
Biography
Early life
DeRose was born in Binghamton, New York to a construction worker and a former professional ice skater with the Ice Capades.[1][2] She began playing the piano at age three and soon became a fan of jazz.[1] As a child she also played the organ and percussion, and played the piano in school bands.[1] When she was a teenager, she used to drive to New York City to see jazz musicians like Hank Jones and Mulgrew Miller.[2] After high school, DeRose was offered a scholarship to Concordia College but chose to attend Binghamton University instead.[1] At 21, DeRose was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.[2] Suffering severe pain in her right hand, she was forced to stop playing the piano.[2] Not performing for close to a year she became depressed and turned to drugs and alcohol to help her cope.[1] One night she was in a bar listening to Doug Beardsley's trio when someone suggested that she get up and sing.[1] From then she sang regularly with Beardsley's trio in Binghamton.[1] After approximately another 18 months, she had two surgeries on her right hand which enabled her to begin playing the piano again.[1] She moved to New York City in 1991 to further her career.[3]
Recording career
She released her debut album Introducing Dena DeRose on the Sharp Nine label in 1996. It included jazz standards like "Blue Skies", "How Deep Is the Ocean?" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". Scott Yanow for Allmusic called the album "an impressive beginning".[4] Her second album, Another World, was released in 1999 with a septet of musicians including Steve Davis, Steve Wilson and Ingrid Jensen.[5] Tracks included standards "Spring Is Here" and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", and "Don't Go", which was co-written by DeRose. She released two more albums on Sharp Nine, I Can See Clearly Now (2000) and Love's Holiday (2002) before moving to MAXJAZZ. Her first album on that label, and her fifth in all, was 2005's A Walk in the Park which featured bassist Martin Wind and drummer Matt Wilson. It included versions of Duke Ellington's "The Lonely Ones", John Lennon's "Imagine" and Cole Porter's "I Concentrate on You".[6] Yanow called it a "generally satisfying effort" and called DeRose's performance "subtle but expressive".[6] She has worked with musicians including Randy Brecker, Bruce Forman, the Ray Brown Trio, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Bill Henderson, Houston Person, Ken Peplowski.[7]
Teaching
DeRose has been the Vocal Professor and Head of Jazz Vocals at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, since 2006. A regular teacher at the Stanford Jazz Workshop for the past 15 plus years, she also teaches periodically at other summer camp and workshop programs including the Litchfield Summer Camp, Taller de Musics in Spain and the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen, Holland.[8][9]
Discography
- Introducing Dena DeRose (1996)
- Another World (1999)
- I Can See Clearly Now (2000)
- Love's Holiday (2002)
- A Walk in the Park (2005) (MAXJAZZ)
- Live at Jazz Standard, Vol. 1 (2007) (MAXJAZZ)
- Live at Jazz Standard, Vol. 2 (2008) (MAXJAZZ)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Smilde, Rineke (2009). Musicians as Lifelong Learners: 32 Biographies. Eburon Uitgeverij B.V.. p. 254. ISBN 9059723007. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JxW7nIW_RVEC&pg=PA254.
- ^ a b c d "Dena DeRose On Piano Jazz", Piano Jazz (National Public Radio), November 30, 2007, archived from the original on June 15, 2010, http://www.webcitation.org/5qVtoeAQX, retrieved June 15, 2010
- ^ Teachout, Terry (December 24, 2000), "An Accidental Singer and a Reborn Pianist to Boot", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on June 15, 2010, http://www.webcitation.org/5qVu1H9vE, retrieved June 15, 2010
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Introducing Dena DeRose > Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r285726. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Loewy, Steve. "Another World > Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r422652. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "A Walk in the Park > Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r732522. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Yanow, Scott (2008). The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. New York: Backbeat Books. p. 65. ISBN 0879308257. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IGywXdulDRQC&pg=PA65.
- ^ "Dena DeRose Biography", Dena DeRose Official site, http://www.denaderose.com/, retrieved July 30, 2010
- ^ DuLong, Jessica (July 22, 2003), "Jazz Lovers", The Advocate (LPI Media): pp. 50–51, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SmUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50, retrieved January 27, 2010
External links
Categories:- 1966 births
- American educators
- American jazz pianists
- American jazz singers
- Binghamton University alumni
- LGBT musicians from the United States
- Living people
- Musicians from New York
- People from Binghamton, New York
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