Dena Harris Books

Dena Derose's attractively sultry voice is a perfect fit with her septet, which also features her own excellent piano work. Bolstered by strong arrangements from Steve Davis, the group focuses mostly on standards, and the whole band joins in the fun. Steve Wilson is equally capable on soprano and alto saxophones, and he is given ample time to stretch. In addition to his writing, Davis blows a mean and dirty trombone, and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen continues to impress. It is DeRose, though; who makes the outing special. Her phrasing is immaculate, and she swings with abandon. At times, her voice seems influenced by vocalist Susannah McCorkle, but DeRose's style is sufficiently her own Her fine piano solos mark her as a jazz stylist, but it is her singing that sets her apart. With any luck, she should go far.

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 of sterling artistry to this date.

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.