4 1/2 STARS "New York-based DeRose is a major find. She both sings and plays the piano like a million bucks…"  Zan Stewart, Down Beat Magazine


"Another World establishes DeRose as a member of that exclusive company of musicians (notably Nat Cole, Blossom Dearie and Shirley Horn) who sing and play piano with equal distinction."  Joel E. Siegel, Washington City Paper


"…DeRose never plays, or sings, anything straight…These tracks are vivid and often exciting demonstrations of how innovative DeRose's musical concepts are, both instrumentally and vocally."   Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

" DeRose plays with considerable flair ...her interpretations are unhackneyed and filled with intriguing alternatives to the routine performances of many other singers."  Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal, UK

There are piano players who sing, and singers who accompany themselves on the piano. Then there is Dena DeRose, a unique jazz artist who can handle both roles equally well. She is a strong piano soloist as well as an original jazz singer.

A native of Binghamton, New York, Dena began her formal piano training at the age of three after her mother heard her pick out melodies on a toy chord organ. She studied classical music through her early teens, and in high school began to explore other styles of music. In college she fell in love with jazz and began to build a career as a jazz pianist, performing with well-known artists such as legendary bassist Major Holley and Slam Stewart. She began appearing as a leader in upstate New York. In the mid-1980s, a series of hand surgeries interrupted Dena’s musical career. But as a result of this unfortunate occurrence, she discovered a new and unexpected talent--singing. For about two years Dena worked exclusively as a jazz vocalist, and after making a full recovery, she began to integrate her piano playing with her singing.

Since moving to New York City in 1992, Dena has performed on piano with Randy Brecker, Bob Moses, Ron McClure, Terry Clarke, Virginia Mayhew, Jacky Terrason, Dottie Dodgion and many others. In addition to her work as a pianist, Dena also performs as a vocalist, and is featured on pianist Rob Bargad’s CD, The Shadow Of Your Smile (Alfa). She also had the opportunity to sing with the Ray Brown Trio at the Stanford Jazz Festival (1997).

Dena appears frequently as both pianist/vocalist with her own group in such NYC venues as The Metronome, Cleopatra’s Needle, Zinno, The Knickerbocker, Small’s, The Renaissance Hotel and St. Peter’s Jazz At Midday. She has performed at The San Jose Jazz Festival, The Jazz Hall in Santa Barbara, Pearl’s in San Francisco, Rusty’s in Toledo and in June ’99 appeared at the Kansas City Jazz International Festival.

An experienced music educator, Dena has been teaching privately for over 15 years. She conducts seminars and master classes at universities and high schools, and is a member of the piano and voice faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Dena is also on the faculty at The New School for Social Research in New York City, teaching vocal technique and harmony classes for continuing education programs. She is on the faculty at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Jazz For Teens programs under the direction of Rufus Reid. Most recently Dena has been chosen as the jazz vocal adjudicator for The Star-Ledger Award Scholarship given by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Dena’s debut recording as a leader, Introducing Dena DeRose, has received rave reviews in the States as well as internationally. Accompanying her are renowned drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath, saxophonist Steve Wilson, and others. Her second album Another World, on Sharp Nine was released in June’99. It has garnered excellent reviews from Downbeat, San Francisco Examiner, Hot House Magazine, Washington City Paper and many more.