Monneuse, Denis

The Mariinsky label presents the recording of two of Prokofiev’s most popular works, Piano Concerto No 3 and Symphony No 5. Denis Matsuev features as soloist, in this his fourth recording on the Mariinsky label. Since winning the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998 Matsuev has established a reputation as one of Russia’s leading pianists and is renowned for his interpretations of Russian music. His recordings of Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 3 Shostakovich Piano Concertos 1 & 2 and Tchaikovsky’s first two piano concertos, have all received considerable acclaim.

Jazz Manouche or Gypsy Jazz, is a highly-evolved style of music, based on the guitar playing of Django Reinhardt. It requires a solid rhythmic foundation upon which a soloist may build his or her musical statement. The challenge lies in learning how to produce this rhythmic foundation, for Manouche rhythm can be both instantly recognizable to the audience and, frustratingly subtle to the student.

Multi-reed player/saxophonist Denis Solee has lived in Nashville since 1974. Interested and skilled in all types of music, he has played in military bands, symphony orchestras, Broadway shows, big bands, and small groups. He has appeared on radio, TV, films, and recordings for artists from Ray Stevens to Ray Charles; Mel Tillis to Mel Torme; Louis Bellson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sarah Vaughn, Amy Grant, Liberace, Aretha Franklin…. and the list goes on. While he makes a living playing virtually all types of music, Denis in the last few years has focused more on his major interest: big bands and small jazz ensembles. Denis has 4 of his own albums on the Green Hills Music label and just recently released his newest CD - "Sinatra on Sax" for Village Square Music. Denis teaches ensembles at The Nashville Jazz Workshop, and is responsible for the transcriptions and arrangements performed by these ensembles.

2019 will see the 500th commemoration of the death of one of the greatest geniuses humanity has produced: Leonardo da Vinci, scientist, inventor, painter and musician.
Doulce Mémoire, having devoted themselves to Renaissance music for the past 30 years, have decided to pay homage to Leonardo. Their founder-director, Denis Raisin Dadre, an eminent specialist in the music of the period and a great lover of pictorial art, has devised an original programme: Rather than just make music from the time of Leonardo, I've taken my cue from the paintings themselves.I've worked on what could be the hidden music of these pictures, what musical pieces might be suggested by them…