Biography

After receiving his Masters Degree from the University of Miami, Denis DiBlasio joined the big band of legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, serving as Maynard 's Musical Director 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. His scores have been published by Kendor, William Allen, Kjos, Doug Beach and Hal Leonard, and his several books on jazz improvisation and scat-singing are available through Kendor, Houston and Jamey Aebersold Publications. He is currently Director of the Jazz Department and conducts the Jazz Lab Band at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

As a clinician for the Yamaha Musical Corporation, DiBlaslo 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, usually featuring Jim Ridl (piano), Darryl Hall (1995 Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition first-place winner) and Jim.Miller (drums) 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..."

Their latest release on Dreambox Media/Encounter are Reflections of Childhood/Duets (EAR-1023), a double-CD on which Denis augments his regular arsenal with an equally formidable voice on the soprano saxophone, and the brand-new Rhino (EAR-1032). Both feature special guest vocalist Suzanne Cloud.

The sheer joy of spontaneity, intensity, and depth of expression all come together in the jazz artistry of Denis DiBlasio.