Appearing at the Jazz in the Wood concert series in Collingswood, NJ, will be saxophonist Denis DiBlasio and his band on Thursday January 8, 2009, at the Collingswood Community Center, 30 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, NJ. Admission: $10/$5 for students. One show. 7:30-9PM Free sodas. BYOB. For info: 856-858-8914
Appearing with him will be: Guitarist Brian Betz, bassist Steve Varner, and drummer Jim Miller
Denis DiBlasio served as the musical director for the legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson for five years. During this time he honed his virtuosity on the baritone saxophone and flute as well as a prodigious scat-vocal technique, and developed estimable composing/arranging skills. He is currently Director of the Jazz Department at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and has been voted one of the top ten baritone players in the world by Downbeat Magazine.
As a clinician for the Yamaha Musical Corporation, DiBlasio has taught and performed all over the United States; his “education as entertainment" style has also taken him to Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Japan. His unique combination of positive motivation and witty sense of humor ensures an atmosphere where “making music is fun" and students are encouraged by his fearless risk-taking attitude that communicates the message: “Mistakes are valid ... if you learn something from the attempt." This approach keeps Denis extremely busy, in constant demand and often booked up to a year in advance.
The Denis DiBlasio Quartet appears extensively in club, concert, workshop and festival settings. Of their first two CDs the Philadelphia Inquirer noted “DiBlasio unravels skeins of bebop that emerge from his big horn in a furious blur ... DiBlasio huffs and puffs and blows the house down on Catch Me." (LAS-11193), and Cadence observed that on Seven Giant Steps to Heaven (LAS-38932) “DiBlasio seems able to do whatever he pleases on the horn; musically, he has an excellent sense of rhythm, pacing and dynamics, and is able to swing with abandon at a variety of tempos on either baritone saxophone or flute..."The sheer joy of spontaneity, intensity, and depth of expression all come together in the jazz artistry of Denis DiBlasio. About his CD Perpetual Baggage Claim: “...DiBlasio really does have his own sound, which involves wit and overtones and a full-bodied timbre that covers the entire range of the instrument....from the emotional Godfather-theme-like 'Take the Cannoli' (which is dedicated to poor Clemenza of the movie) to a wild sax-and-drums-only ride through 'Just the Way You Look Tonight' to Rahsaan Roland Kirkian wackiness on his percussive use of vocals over flute...to the give and take of an inspired scatting duo on 'Like a Pet Shop On Fire'...DiBlasio is an original..." - Jazz News
“Denis DiBlasio is funnier than a lot of professional comics, and a heck of a player to boot...a set of tweaked standards that showcase his scatting, flute-playing, madcap persona...The biggest joke - and most serious blowing - may be DiBlasio's show-stopping take of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,' which he plays alone on flute, occasionally singing and blowing simultaneously." - Philadelphia Inquirer
Fifteen percent of the tickets sold at the concert will go to Jazz Bridge, a 501C3 nonprofit that assists our local jazz and blues musicians in crisis.
Appearing with him will be: Guitarist Brian Betz, bassist Steve Varner, and drummer Jim Miller
Denis DiBlasio served as the musical director for the legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson for five years. During this time he honed his virtuosity on the baritone saxophone and flute as well as a prodigious scat-vocal technique, and developed estimable composing/arranging skills. He is currently Director of the Jazz Department at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and has been voted one of the top ten baritone players in the world by Downbeat Magazine.
As a clinician for the Yamaha Musical Corporation, DiBlasio has taught and performed all over the United States; his “education as entertainment" style has also taken him to Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Japan. His unique combination of positive motivation and witty sense of humor ensures an atmosphere where “making music is fun" and students are encouraged by his fearless risk-taking attitude that communicates the message: “Mistakes are valid ... if you learn something from the attempt." This approach keeps Denis extremely busy, in constant demand and often booked up to a year in advance.
The Denis DiBlasio Quartet appears extensively in club, concert, workshop and festival settings. Of their first two CDs the Philadelphia Inquirer noted “DiBlasio unravels skeins of bebop that emerge from his big horn in a furious blur ... DiBlasio huffs and puffs and blows the house down on Catch Me." (LAS-11193), and Cadence observed that on Seven Giant Steps to Heaven (LAS-38932) “DiBlasio seems able to do whatever he pleases on the horn; musically, he has an excellent sense of rhythm, pacing and dynamics, and is able to swing with abandon at a variety of tempos on either baritone saxophone or flute..."The sheer joy of spontaneity, intensity, and depth of expression all come together in the jazz artistry of Denis DiBlasio. About his CD Perpetual Baggage Claim: “...DiBlasio really does have his own sound, which involves wit and overtones and a full-bodied timbre that covers the entire range of the instrument....from the emotional Godfather-theme-like 'Take the Cannoli' (which is dedicated to poor Clemenza of the movie) to a wild sax-and-drums-only ride through 'Just the Way You Look Tonight' to Rahsaan Roland Kirkian wackiness on his percussive use of vocals over flute...to the give and take of an inspired scatting duo on 'Like a Pet Shop On Fire'...DiBlasio is an original..." - Jazz News
“Denis DiBlasio is funnier than a lot of professional comics, and a heck of a player to boot...a set of tweaked standards that showcase his scatting, flute-playing, madcap persona...The biggest joke - and most serious blowing - may be DiBlasio's show-stopping take of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,' which he plays alone on flute, occasionally singing and blowing simultaneously." - Philadelphia Inquirer
Fifteen percent of the tickets sold at the concert will go to Jazz Bridge, a 501C3 nonprofit that assists our local jazz and blues musicians in crisis.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
