The Songbirds Archives

I believe that it all began with the triumvirate of 1) Elvis Presley, 2) the Beatles, and 3) television becoming really mainstream. I am referring to the slippery trip taken by our old friend, Taste, as it all too willingly slithered, then plummeted, down the tubes.

Something about the still-postwar era we were living through then allowed this to happen. Guards and resistances that were formerly in place against drench were somehow more than ready to be impacted by some slick marketing. I've thought about this a lot; it has nothing to do with someone having ears and eyes and a mind all closed tightly to new musical developments. Rather, it's that the new developments largely stank.

So, then, it is all the more gloriously refreshing to see a newbie come down the pike who has taste, chops, vulnerability, sensitivity and all the other good stuff. I speak of Dena DeRose.

For those unfamiliar with the bare bones of her background, here they are quickly: She was on a piano career track, encountered carpal tunnel syndrome problems that necessitated hand surgery, and as a result of that started singing. Fortuitous for us, I say.

She doesn’t busy you up by overplaying. Rather it is closer to pianist Ahmad Jamal’s approach to using space. DeRose has nailed the art of reharmonizing: When she does so, it isn't so extensive as to be off-putting; rather, it comes off like trying a new condiment on an old, familiar food. (Cilantro on a cheeseburger?)

You Don’t Know What Love Is: First chorus is by DeRose, followed by a chorus of Steve Wilson's intelligently hot soprano sax, then to DeRose on piano for 16; and finally, her voice comes back at the bridge and takes it out. They say you have to grab ear of the radio station's music director in the first 20 seconds of the first track – otherwise it's CD Purgatory, like the used CD store packed with promos or some similar fate. So with that in mind, this probably was a good track with which to open the CD. It shows off to good advantage DeRose’s vocal and piano chops, plus an interesting instrumental solo by Wilson. But good as it is, I would have preferred to be introduced to this album by the next track.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning: A startling and wonderful concept – one that is different! – for this song. Ol' Blue Eyes might own the tune, but DeRose is a strong contender for having the ownership torch passed to her. This is a tasteful and intriguing arrangement that opens with a thoughtful ballad-style first chorus, and then all hell breaks loose – albeit glorious hell. Track also features a hot Steve Davis trombone solo.

Hi Fly: Piano trio only. Sweeping, free-form intro which ever so slowly and tantalizingly becomes Randy Weston’s unique and timeless melody. While an interestingly constructed tune to play on, I really would have liked to hear the Jon Hendricks’ lyric here; it's a trenchant commentary on how fast the world is moving these days (and it was written over 40 years ago!). One lyric snippet that comes to mind: Everybody’s hip – every kind of sound comes from every lip.

You’ve Changed: The word "shared" at the middle of the first bridge – and "changed" at the top of the second chorus – display her generous (yet judiciously employed) vibrato. These two words simply drip with feeling.

Spring Is Here: At the start you might think "Wait! This is not my beloved Rodgers and Hart Spring Is Here!" But hold on, it surely is, as you will see a few bars later. A wondrous and imaginative treatment. Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen demonstrates with her solo, as she's been doing for several years, that she is someone to watch closely.

Don’t Go: An original Dena DeRose tune and lyric. Elliptical in form – no straight 32 bars for this gal. She has no fear of venturing into elliptical forms because they are in fact the atmosphere of the new song forms with which she has grown up.

Whisper Not: Piano trio, instrumental. I hate to be any kind of negative toward DeRose, because I find her an important new addition to the roster of quality singers and players. However, having said that, I find the first chorus, with its severe reharmonization, rankling – especially when, during the blowing choruses and Benny Golson’s tasty out-chorus, they all resort to the comfy-as-an-old-sweater original harmonies for their solos.

Beautiful Friendship: Listen to her phrasing on this tune. She sings with enough native swagger so as not be afraid of leaping several beats ahead of where the tune is in real time; or of lagging behind the beat for as many beats as is necessary to make her musical point at that moment. Plain and simple, she’s got a secure rhythmic feel.

A famous musician once told me, "A good sense of rhythm can take you a long way in this business." Dena DeRose has that, and much, much more.

Comparisons are sure to be floated about regarding Dena DeRose vis-a-vis Diana Krall, because they are both singer-pianists. (WBGO’s Michael Bourne refers to these folk as "hyphenates.") Let me save all of you the trouble. Krall is Krall. DeRose is DeRose. And, say I, thank God for that.

Unlike many, I am not a Krall basher. Her addition of a drummer (currently Kenny Washington is touring with her) will possibly give her sound more bite and make her more acceptable to some of the hold-out jazz types. But having said that, I wish to state that Dena DeRose comes across, to my ears, as more of the real deal.

Horn parts (Ingrid Jensen, Steve Wilson and Steve Davis) on some of the tracks were aranged by Steve Wilson or Ingrid Jensen. Daniel Sadownick is a tasty percussion player who has learned that he doesn't have to shake and rattle everything in his kit at all times, in order to underscore a passage or make a musical point.

Tracks

1. You Don't Know What Love Is (G. DePaul, D. Raye)

2. In the Wee Small Hours (B. Hilliard, B. Mann)

3. More Than You Know (E. Eliscu, B. Rose, V. Youmans)

4. Hi-Fly (R. Weston, J. Hendricks)

5. You've Changed (B. Carey, C. Fischer)

6. Spring is Here (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)

7. Don't Go (D. DeRose)

8. Whisper Not (B. Golson)

9. Another World (R. Bargad)

10. Beautiful Friendship (D. Kahn, S. Styne)

Total time: 55.57. Recorded December 7-9, 1998 at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York. Personnel: Dena DeRose, vocals and piano; Steve Wilson, alto and soprano saxophone; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet and flugelhorn; Steve Davis, trombone; Dwayne Burno, bass; Mark Taylor, drums; Daniel Sadownick, percussion.

Official Dena DeRose website