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Denis
DiBLASIO
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.
Bookings:
Phone/Fax 609-589-1376
Office: 609-256-4500 ext. 3528
E-mail: diblasio@rowan.edu
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