DENA DEROSE Ode to the Road

Dena DeRose’s music is like a cool breeze; she’s wry, wise, impeccably musical, no-nonsense, and fun. After her three decades as a pianist-singer, DeRose’s voice and her fingers are on the most harmonious of terms. She’s not afraid of simplicity; DeRose has no time for hollow sentiment, nor does she feel a compulsion to outsmart the makers of the Great American Songbook. Her approach to jazz resides mainly in her swinging rhythm and pianistic phrasing. Her eleventh album as a leader takes its name from a breezy tune, full of hip changes, that was composed by Alan Broadbent. The lyrics, provided by the legendary Mark Murphy, resonated deeply with DeRose since when she’s not teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, she’s frequently on tour. Appropriately enough she is joined by three other HighNote artists—singer Sheila Jordan, saxophonist Houston Person, and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt—all of whom have appeared with DeRose on her global travels.With her long-time rhythm section of Martin Wind and Matt Wilson, DeRose delivers a recording that celebrates the life of the jazz artist and the friendships they make. TRACKLISTING:1. Ode to the Road4:01
2. Nothing Like You5:34
3. Don’t Ask Why6:14
4. All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm/ Little Willie Leaps6:465. That Second Look5:25
6. Small Day Tomorrow5:28
7. The Way We Were6:28
8. Cross Me Off Your List6:06
9. I Have the Feeling I’ve Been Here Before5:55
10. A Tip of the Hat5:29
11. The Days of Wine and Roses 6:49Dena DeRose – vocals, piano (all tracks)
Sheila Jordan – vocal (tracks 4 & 6)
Houston Person – tenor saxophone (tracks 7 & 11)
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet(tracks 2 & 8)
Martin Wind – bassMatt Wilson – drums