Dena DeRose

Dena DeRose is a “stunningly talented pianist/vocalist” (Cadence) who has taught and performed at Stanford Jazz Workshop since 1996. Fortunately for SJW students and audiences, she has returned every year since then, even as her ever-increasing popularity as a performing and recording artist has taken her to the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals and venues, including the Blue Note, the Kennedy Center, and the North Sea and Monterey Jazz Festivals.

Dena began playing piano as a child in suburban New York, and became fascinated by jazz after discovering the music of Count Basie as a teenager. In college, she devoted herself to jazz, practicing for hours on end and making frequent trips to New York City to hear her favorite pianists. All her practicing and playing took an unexpected toll when Dena developed severe carpal tunnel syndrome, which made it impossible to play the piano. This hardship turned into a new opportunity when, on a friend’s dare, Dena took the stage and sang at a local club. By the time her piano chops had recovered, singing was an essential part of Dena’s musical life.

As a recording artist, DeRose has 14 CDs to her credit to rave reviews. Her newest, and third consecutive HighNote release Ode To The Road features the incomparable rhythm section of Martin Wind and Matt Wilson with guests jazz vocal icon Sheila Jordan, the legendary saxophonist Houston Person, and the lyrical and swinging Jeremy Pelt on trumpet. DeRose’s past releases have garnered many outstanding reviews in top jazz magazines like Downbeat, JazzTimes, JazzHot, JazzHistoryOnline, All About Jazz, The New York Record, and many other international jazz publications. She’s has been featured on many radio stations in Europe, and has garnered many excellent reviews All of DeRose’s recordings from Sharp Nine, Maxjazz, Vega, GoFour, and now HighNote, have all received no less than 4 stars from Downbeat, and have continued to gain listeners in the U.S. and abroad.