Review of: Round Midnight
by: Tara Isabella Burton for MyMusicSuccess (08/20/09)

"Smoky, sexy, soft - the velvety voice of Dena Taylor dominates not just a corner of the room but indeed the entire wall of sound created by the "on" button of the stereo.

The jazz-tinged piano-ballads featured on Round Midnight, a selection from Taylor's latest album, combine a retro melancholy reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holliday with a self-knowing wink and a nod - in all the tracks, particularly "Let's Face the Music and Dance"

It is clear that Taylor combines the power and passion of her deeper melodies - such as "Round Midnight," arguably the sample's best song - with a hip, even modern take on a classic Cole-Porter sound: the happening drumbeat of "Let's Face the Music..." or the slight world-music-sound of "That Old Black Magic" are but two examples of the edge that Taylor brings to the "standard" sound.

But it is Taylor's voice that dominates the sound most. A gorgeous, rich mahogany voice, it is showcased prominently on the album - perhaps too much so, the production can times can feel excessively focused on the vocals, which echo just a nanosecond longer than they need to - and with good reason. Taylor's talent is the real deal - an instrument as powerful as a jazz piano or saxophone in evoking the mournful yet sassy strains of jazz and blues so central to Round Midnight.

Taylor's road to success has been hard-won, even inspirational. After a difficult and traumatic childhood, Taylor spent twelve years abroad in the military, combining her years of service with a series of low-profile concert and event gigs, ultimately choosing marriage over her first record contract - a choice Taylor would later discover led to an unhappy marriage and an unfair postponement of her dreams. Upon leaving the military, Taylor found herself in a tragic car accident that left her with severe brain damage - it took her a full two years for Taylor to regain her powers of speech and motion.

Today, Taylor is following her dream by giving "voices to the voiceless" - a power she was once herself denied and lends her personal support to a number of good causes that support others who have endured adversity.

It is a testament to Taylor's talent, however, that her sound never seems "preachy." Rather, the adversity Taylor has faced lends her voice a hard, knowing edge - like that of a Gladys Knight at her prime- that gives her music a ripened maturity so many pop stars lack.

That she is able to combine this maturity with the infectious and youthful rhythm of songs like "That Old Black Magic" is further proof of her skill as both a performer and a musician."

In order to give my view on Dena Taylor's album I find myself obliged to start out with one of the greatest interpretations of "Round Midnight" that I have ever heard. The track obliterates those original contorted forms that spring to life from Monk's harmonic requirements and reaches the listener in a very reassuring form, a pleasant "almost pop" sound that puts you in peace with the world and with life in general. The instrumental orchestration is pleasantly classical and the voice leans on every chord with a class and a timbre that brings to mind the voices of some of the great interpreters of jazz. I have chosen "Round Midnight" as my starting point because it is a track to which I am very attached and which Dena Taylor has made me love even more.

I now need to start again from the beginning in order to continue my review and the first track I find on my path is a rendering of "Too Close For Comfort" in which Dena does not let you miss for one moment all those Fitzgerald albums that you have had the courage to listen to in your life as a musician and you feel like you're back in 1956 with the sound of today. Worthy of note is also the latin interpretation of "That Old Black Magic". My ear falls in love again when "Let's Face the Music" starts up in which Dena handles the chord changes with class and simplicity and the whole track is rounded off with some splendid improvisations that show nothing of the over-indulgence that is all too typical of this genre.

Excellent musicians and excellent interpretations of often over-played standards that in this album take on a new life such as "Route 66", completely re-invented and presented to the listener with the mood of a shuffle and the sweetness of a swing (a highly successful operation which makes for very enjoyable listening).

Dena Taylor is without doubt a splendid surprise and the album runs so smoothly that you do not want it to finish. If you are a lover of jazz, jazz standards, warm voices and well-played music, make sure that this album becomes a part of your collection.

Max Maffia, Daybox Records,March 17, 2009

(This is the English translation of the Daybox Record Review. If you'd like to read it in it's original Italian, visit: http://www.imisound.ning.com/profile/denataylor)

What a find!! CD Baby suggests that you will like this disc if you like Carmen McRae, Keely Smith and Sarah Vaughan and how true that is! And, like these ladies, Dena is supported by three of the finest musicians.

It is my pleasure to present Dena to the listening audience of the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

Thank you Dena for a very pleasurable musical experience, but also for introducing me to Ron Teixeira, a fabulous keyboardist. The arrangements of these all time favourites is first rate. new and exciting. As well, Dena is an inspiration to us all.

Carole Hayes, Shoalhaven Radio Triple U & Euroballia Radio

"Although IMIsound was conceived primarily as a showcase for "Independent Musicians from Italy", it has always held its doors open to artists from all over the world. It was therefore with immense pleasure that we woke up one morning to find that our community had been graced overnight by the presence of Dena Taylor.

There are many artists out there doing a splendid job with the great classics of jazz and blues, but the sensitivity, the depth of feeling and the richness of colour that Dena infuses into her performances are in a class of their own. Duly supported by a band of first-class musicians, Dena is that rare combination of outstanding talent and enchanting charisma that one cannot but feel fortunate to come across in the vast world of music.

As a tribute to Dena and other international artists from various genres who have chosen to embrace the IMIsound project, we have given life to "Radio IMIsound International" - a rotating playlist where we are now showcasing two tracks each from all of our international members including Dena Taylor's magnificent performances of "Round Midnight" and "Route 66". Thank you Dena."

Tony Lawson
IMIsound Founder
www.imisound.com
24th Januray 2009

This vocalist has an intensely strong, rich and mellow voice and she draws you into the jazz songs she sings.

CD Baby Reviewer, July 2008

Review of: Too Close for Comfort
By: TAXI A&R, July 2008

The track opens with a solid bass line doubled with piano establishing a motif that is revisited gracefully throughout the arrangement. The performance has the spirit of a traditional jazz trio & vocal group working through a head chart while including a subtle arrangement adding depth to an otherwise familiar format. Nice job.

The vocal performance feels good too .. right in the pocket. I like the way the vocalist shapes the phrasing without over doing it and lets the music dictate a natural direction.

The group swings with taste making this an easy listening experience - always a good thing.

Dena Taylor and her quartet featuring keyboardist Ron Teixeira, bassist Ron Pirtle, and drummer Dave Dunscombe, arrive in the summer of 2008 with the American Standard songbook in tow. Taylor's new CD, 'round Midnight, is named after the haunting Monk ballad whose melody has remained with Taylor throughout her life. Round Midnight features 9 tracks of classic Jazz tunes performed admirably by the aforementioned musicians.

The strong-voiced, yet sweet singing Taylor chose the 9 tracks based on her appreciation of the lyrics and emotional attachment to the melodies. After listening to the CD, there's no doubt that she's made each song her own personal statement.

Round Midnight begins with a groovy rendition of ‘Too Close for Comfort’, in which keyboardist Teixeira follows the melody with a nice solo. Dena sings the melody out, and leaves the listener wanting more.

‘That Old Black Magic’ continues with an addictive Latin groove. The bridge ‘brings the swing’, and again Teixeira has a chance to show his improvisational skills with a very supportive rhythm section.

Monk’s ballad is up next to slow things down a bit. Here Taylor’s vocal skills are in full display. She lends some well-timed vibrato and phrasing to the inherent beauty of the melody.

Other tracks you won’t want to miss are ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ and ‘Our Love is Here to Stay.’ Both tunes feature the rhythm section trading ‘4’s’, demonstrating their intuitive and supportive interplay. The bonus track ‘Route 66’ features guitar and you won’t want to miss the Bossa ‘I’m a Fool to Want You’.

Round Midnight is a collection of timeless American standards that is a perfect traveling companion for a summer journey. Forget the ‘pain at the pump’. Let Dena Taylor’s sultry voice ease your worries and keep you smiling!

Michael Knight for The Jazz Network
July 11 2008

"She is a jazz and blues vocalist extraordinaire! Ms. Taylor has a huge repertoire of songs from both genres of music and sings all of them very well. Is very professional, has great back up musicians, earns the praise and respect wherever she performs from fellow musicians as much as from the audience members, and audiences feel she is singing to them personally whenever she performs.

All in all, Dena Taylor is a joy to watch as well as to listen to her vocals. WFIT, 89.5FM has been privileged to have Ms. Taylor perform at several events and she is superb."

Troika: Kenny Clarke, Dena Taylor, Dave Dunscombe

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MISCELLANEOUS REVIEWS:

"Troika, according to Webster's dictionary is a "group of three riding abreast or all equal." And this is an apt description of Dena Taylor, Kenny Clarke, Dave Dunscombe in the group, TROIKA. With vocalist Taylor, Clarke on keyboard and organ, and Dunscombe on drums, you have a true "Troika."

Taylor, the vocalist, has the ironic interpretations of lyrics that combines emotion with musicianship, is not unlike that of Carmen McRae. Yet, Taylor is like Dinah Washington in her ability to be versatile in her music, going from jazz to blues to light pop with an incredible sense of drama and timing. And like many great female jazz singers, Taylor is willing to take chances with her styling and her innovative singing.

Clarke, new to the world of jazz music has really honed his craft and hits those jazz notes and swings with heartfelt blues feeling that catches fire. He plays a lovely ballad that gives him the opportunity to close with a piano hug. Dunscombe, is a drummer extraordinaire; expert in the use of the rim shot for syncopating purposes and is known for and prized for his pushing, driving and subtle coaxing of the beat."

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"Dena and Company is a quartet/quintet consisting of some of the area's most gifted musicians who focus on the music and swing their way through jazz standards, weave their way through haunting blues and ballads, season things up with smooth latin jazz and have been known to drop in some contemporary music as well as occasionally sneaking in a hint of country, just for fun. "

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The pleasure this group of artists gets from performing is obvious from the first note and they don't fail to perform all the way up to the last one. Dena and Company were also the featured artists for the WFIT Twilight Jazz series in December,2005 and the featured artists for the "Random Acts of Music" concert held in the Wickham Park Ampitheatre in September, 2007." "Dena Taylor has captivated her audiences with her blues and jazz repetoire and the ability to go from one to the other. Her feel for the lyrics of any song she sings captures the audience's ear and hearts."

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"The appearance at Lou's Blues Upstairs of Dena Taylor and her jazz band, Dena and Company, proved that talent will win out. Dena's choice of songs from her jazz book to blues and , yes, a little pop thrown in wowed the crowd! Dave Dunscombe on drums demonstrated what "tasty" drummin' is all about, Johnny Fitz made one feel the electric bass was talkin' along with his soul searching songs, Rich Hall on sax played the licks not just to complement Dena's singing but to enhance it and Dan Latt, on the keyboard, ran chords to satisfy any piano players love of expression. All in all it was a music lovers dream." (LP, 2004)

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SPECIAL SHOW REVIEW: Midnight at Maxie's Melbourne Civic Theatre February 26-27 2006 "What a treat!" Impossible to describe this animated show .. yet impossible not to praise. Vocalist, Dena Taylor, found a new way to present her music and that was within the set of a 40's jazz club called Maxie's. The only thing missing was the smell of cheap booze and stale cigarettes. Taylor is comfortable and at ease with both her music and her audience and they respond in kind. She "is" the songs she sings whether it's a smoky Billie Holiday song or some swinging up-tempo, snap-your-fingers number. And, just as an added bonus, she has a 100-watt smile that she turns on regularly. Ron Teixiera is the consummate professional and he sneaks up on the keys and works them like they were meant to be worked. He's as quiet physically when he plays as John Fitzgerald is exuberant as he kicks it with his bass. Like I said, "What a treat!"

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