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Dena Taylor

Based in Austin, TX, Dena Taylor is a jazz vocalist who harkens back to the days of smoke-filled clubs and smoky-voiced chanteuses. Her sound is solid; without a lot of vocal gymnastics in the Jazz Standards she covers. She inhabits the songs and makes them her own – feeling happiness, anger, joy, sorrow, love and hate. She draws listeners in and allows them to relate to these songs all over again. Dena was named “Best Female Jazz Artist of the Year” by Indie Music Channel in 2014. Her album “The Nearness of You” showcases her vocal talents and reminds us that even though she is a “seasoned” artist singing Standards, these songs don’t lose their ability to move and touch the audience just because they may have fallen out of vogue.

Dena is so full of passion for these songs that her jovial attitude can’t help but be contagious. An engaging personality, Dena wants to share her love of Jazz Standards and the American Songbook with her audience. She has honed her craft over the years – spending 12 years abroad serving her country in the US military and, whenever possible, performing with touring USO shows. Then, upon her return, Dena settled in Florida where she took to the stage as a member of the prestigious Cocoa Village Playhouse “Gold Star” company. She also began to reestablish her solo career and released her cd “Round Midnight” in 2008. With a voice that contains a bit of a knowing edge reminiscent of Gladys Knight in her prime, Dena became a “go to” vocalist for national Jazz and Blues groups touring in Florida.

​After relocating to Austin, TX, Dena continued her collaboration with some of the best musicians in the jazz and blues genres including GRAMMY® Award Winners and Gold Record® holders: guitarist Redd Volkaert, keyboardist Floyd Domino and drummer Ernie Durawa. Volkaert and Durawa both worked on her second album, “Certitude” in 2010. One of the tracks from this effort, “Song for My Father,” was rewarded with an IAIRA Certification of "International Top 100 Hit shortly after its release.The team worked so well together that Dena chose to work with them for her next record in 2014, “The Nearness of You.” She was subsequently named one of the Top Five Vocalists in the SingersUniverse " Best Vocalist of The Month" Competition, in addition to the aforementioned IMC 2014 Best Female Jazz Artist of the Year Award.

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Dena Taylor

Read "Take Five With Dena Taylor" reviewed by Dena Taylor


Meet Dena Taylor: Ask jazz vocalist, Dena Taylor, about turning 62 in October and the relevancy of her music in an age of youth and she'll first respond with one of the brightest smiles you could imagine. Then she'll shake her head and, most likely, respond that she hadn't counted on making it to 62 no less still making music. A jovial spirit with a contagious robust laugh is what you will find if you're fortunate enough to spend any ...

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Recording

Austin-Based Jazz Vocalist Dena Taylor Releases New CD, "You've Changed"

Austin-Based Jazz Vocalist Dena Taylor Releases New CD, "You've Changed"

Source: Dena Taylor

Dena Taylor recorded her new album, You’ve Changed, while wondering if it would be her last time to sing and record. The day after it was finished she underwent throat surgery with no promises from doctors that she would even be able to talk after the surgery. Thankfully, it went well and she is speaking AND singing again! On You’ve Changed, Dena leads listeners from her beginnings in country, to blues and ending where she most happily lives—tucked inside the ...

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Recording

New Release By Austin Vocalist, Dena Taylor

New Release By Austin Vocalist, Dena Taylor

Source: Dena Taylor

Dena Taylor has released the first of two new jazz singles. She's chosen, “Love - You Didn't Do Right By Me," as the first to launch. This Iving Berlin classic was made famous for being sung by the artist he wrote it for, Rosemary Clooney, and for its use in the Christmas movie staple, White Christmas. This track pairs Ms. Taylor with Austin guitarist, Rick McRae. Like their work on The Nearness of You and other Taylor's singles, it's another ...

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Crowdfunding Campaign

Seasoned Jazz Singer Records "Lullabies" Album And Dedicates It To Help Fight Child Abuse

Seasoned Jazz Singer Records "Lullabies" Album And Dedicates It To Help Fight Child Abuse

Source: Dena Taylor

Jazz musician Dena Taylor is raising money to help distribute her newest album, Lullabies, in order to help soothe traumatized children and raise money for organizations fighting child abuse. Music can be a calming and healing influence, and lullabies sung by a mother can be a true expression of love and safety. Unfortunately, some children living in abusive situations never hear a lullaby and have no hope of improving their family’s situation. Jazz singer Dena Taylor is hoping to change ...

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Recording

Austin's Dena Taylor Releases A New Romantic Collection Of Songs From The American Songbook

Austin's Dena Taylor Releases A New Romantic Collection Of Songs From The American Songbook

Source: Dena Taylor

A superior ballad and standards singer, Dena Taylor has released her latest recording, The Nearness Of You. A set comprised of ten classic standards, the performances feature the appealing singer uplifting the timeless material while accompanied by some of Texas' finest jazz musicians. Dena Taylor puts plenty of emotion and understanding into her interpretations of lyrics and one can certainly imagine the composers of the songs that she interprets loving her. She lets the words speak for themselves while adding ...

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Recording

Celebrated Jazz Vocalist Dena Taylor Releases Album "Certitude" Today

Celebrated Jazz Vocalist Dena Taylor Releases Album "Certitude" Today

Source: MyMusicSuccess.com

Critics Already Singing Praises for Artist's Sophomore Album Austin, TX - DA Productions is thrilled to announce today's release of Certitude, the second album from jazz vocalist Dena Taylor. Combining jazz, country and easy listening, this compilation of standards makes a great addition for a dinner party or the soundtrack to a romantic evening with someone special. Certitude is made up of 11 country-inspired jazz tracks featuring collaborations with an impressive roster of guest artists including Redd Volkaert (2009 Grammy ...

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Recording

Dena Taylor's Soon-to-be-Released CD "Certitude"

Dena Taylor's Soon-to-be-Released CD "Certitude"

Source: Michael Ricci

Jazz Vocalist, Dena Taylor, has changed more than just cities with her relocation to Austin, Texas last year. The CD's title, Certitude, meaning “freedom from doubt" or “something that is unfailing, “ shows strong confidence in both sound and style and that confidence is well founded. This new pairing of Taylor with New York producer/musician, Matt Smith has introduced a new approach and a new life to the music she sings. It's fresh, edgy, stylish and, frankly, quite interesting! Smoky, ...

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Recording

Dena Taylor: Determined Vocalist Produces Music in the Face of Adversity

Dena Taylor: Determined Vocalist Produces Music in the Face of Adversity

Source: MyMusicSuccess.com

Texan jazz diva Dena Taylor has today received glowing acclaim from online music website MyMusicSuccess.Com for her recent album release Round Midnight. This collection of classic jazz tracks features a number of all time favourites from “Let's Face The Music And Dance" to the the more bluesy “Route 66" and more. MyMusicSuccess' jazz reviewer Tara Isabella Burton describes Dena's sound: “Smoky, sexy, soft--the velvety voice of Dena Taylor dominates not just a corner of the room but indeed the entire ...

"Together, the story that Dena’s voice and the instrument tells is something special." James McQuiston, Neufutur Magazine (You've Changed, rel. 2016)

"As executive producer, Dena makes spot on artistic choices on all 9 songs. Although Dena Taylor has several exceptional albums under her belt, this new collection of re-invented classics is head-and-shoulders above the rest." Bree Noble, CEO Women of Substance Radio (You've Changed, rel. 2016)

"The music itself is touching, with Taylor’s unparalleled vocals breathing new life into classic songs. The tracks are further bolstered through a production and overall instrumentation that allows for a calm and cozy feeling to issue forth, without too much in the way of startling or otherwise jarring noises." James McQuiston, NeuFutur Magazine (Lullabies, rel. 2015)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

You've Changed

Self Produced
2016

buy

Lullabies

Self Produced
2015

buy

The Nearness of You

Self Produced
2014

buy

Certitude

Self Produced
2010

buy

Round Midnight

Self Produced
2008

buy

How High the Moon

From: You've Changed
By Dena Taylor

The Nearness of You

From: The Nearness of You
By Dena Taylor

Song For My Father

From: Certitude
By Dena Taylor

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