Customer Reviews

Love's Holiday

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Singer-pianist Dena DeRose continues to improve with each Sharp Nine CD she records. "Love's Holiday" is her fourth -- and her best, which is high praise for an artist with three topnotch recordings already under her belt. Traditionalists will love DeRose's handling of standards like "Lover,"I Thought About You," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "The Good Life," "Close Your Eyes" (from which the album title is taken), "Green Dolphin Street," "But Beautiful," "The Lamp Is Low" and "The Nearness of You" (with pianist Bill Charlap joining the ensemble). You've heard the songs before, but never like this. The arrangements are outstanding. The unexpected treasure, however, is Dena's original song, "The Iris," on which she blends her incredible voice with the rest of the orchestral instruments. Dizzy Gillespie's "Birks Works" and Dena's "Marian's Mood" round out the offerings. Earlier this year, Down Beat magazine listed Dena DeRose as a talent who deserves more exposure. Her "Love's Holiday" CD will give her just that. Once you buy it for your collection, you'll probably join those of us who also have her earlier recordings.

I had the fortunate opportunity to work with Dena at the Stanford Jazz Residency this summer and was completely taken with her music. Her sense of phrasing and understanding of the lyrics is impeccable. Suddenly songs that I've heard hundreds of times before came alive as Dena sang the lyrics in a way that perfectly conveyed the story they were meant to tell. This CD is a perfect example of all of that. The band she's assembled is excellent and her arrangements provide a fresh approach to some great standards. There are so many wonderful moments on this disc. Definitely a great addition to any jazz enthusiast's collection.

I haven't heard a jazz singer like this since I don't know when. Dena DeRose possesses some very, very special talents. She is, first and foremost, a true jazz musician. She is fine pianist, arranger and composer. The topper is that she is just a wonderful singer. Her intonation is superb and she sings with a range of emotion, from an insouciant coolness to a melt your heart warmth. Love's Holiday" is an extremely satisfying, refreshing CD. Her signature sound is vocalizing her piano solos or scatting with her swinging piano solos. Her voice is crystalline in sound, with impeccable jazz phrasing where she can easily change keys or slide through the bars with horn-like pacing. She has an outstanding backup. DeRose has arrived I play her albums constantly and never tire of then, because each time I listen to her, I get a different feeling. I highly recommend this album. for a unique jazz experience.

Dena is an excellent jazz pianist with a pleasant voice that she puts to good use in most of the tracks here, but much too often, after a good vocal start, we are treated to extended instrumental interludes featuring her improvisational skills at the keyboard, which is really more suitable for a jazz festival than for armchair listening. I have qualms about some of the arrangements as well, which often feature dissonant horns that destroy the mood of the song - the effect is somewhat jarring. Dena is best at the soft ballads, and it would be great if she could make an album where she does just that. As it is, this one shows a consummate professional at work, one a bit too preoccupied with the technical side of the music to make the result connect emotionally on a consistent level.

Good arrangements--soloing--puts a song across

Kicks Diana Krall's butt as far as piano chops go

Very enjoyable

MY

If you are buying a CD by a jazz pianist - and Dena Derose is an excellent one - you WANT to hear them solo, right? Like Shiley Horn, this woman is an accomplished pianist as well as a great singer. And if you're a jazz fan, you'll appreciate her extended solos along with her hip vocals and arrangements.

If you prefer a sweet voice singing a soft ballad, with no instrumental solos anmd nary a dissonant chord, there are plenty of (boring) commercial pop singers to fill the bill.

But Dena Derose is a musician. Sit back in your armchair and listen to her cook. Ahhhh!