Jazztimes Magazine
author: Brian Soergel
Denny Jiosa
Dreams Like This (Sonic Canvas)
reviewed by Brian Soergel
It\'s been six years since we\'re heard from Nashville-based guitarist Denny Jiosa, a former staple of smooth jazz radio with hits such as \"Lights of The City.\" His fresh new CD is the project he says he\'s always wanted to release. Although fans will instantly be familiar with Jiosa\'s fluid and smooth guitar style and knacks for hooks, he\'s also dived into Latin and a touch of straight-ahead with \"The Glass Half Full,\" \"Tranquillo\" and a tribute to hero Wes Montgomery called \"East of Montgomery.\"
There\'s even cinematic soundscape with the title track, its 7/4 time held down by drummer Chester Thompson.
The CD also offers a version of one of the most popular songs of all time: Bobby Hebb\'s \"Sunny\" from 1966. The twist here is that Jiosa corralled Hebb into singing on the song, although Hebb rightly realized that everyone\'s heard the familiar vocals so much he decided to scat along instead. Good move. With all that\'s going on with the CD, the best songs are still Jiosa\'s versions of the killer strikeout pitch, the haunting, emotional tracks like \"Midnight at the Wall\" and \"Wounded Warriors.\"
Dreams Like This is a beefy, compelling contemporary jazz CD that rises above most in the genre.
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20th Century Guitar
author: Robert Silverstein
SONIC CANVAS RECORDS - A renowned musician in the world of mainstream and smooth jazz, guitarist Denny Jiosa can always be counted on to come up with a winning strategy. On his 2008 CD, Dreams Like This, Jiosa teams with a bunch of top players and the results make for a solid set of breezy guitar instrumentals. The follow up to his 2002 CD, Body2Body, 2008’s Dreams Like This features a fresh round of Jiosa originals with a definite highlight being a cover of the Bobby Hebb 1966 song classic, “Sunny” which features Hebb on cameo vocals. Commenting on working with an icon of ‘60s pop, Jiosa adds, ‘Bobby Hebb, the original artist and composer of “Sunny” came to my studio to listen to my version of his song. He gave me an overwhelming approval and even agreed to sing on the track!’ On Dreams Like This, Jiosa keeps his sunny side up on an album of albums that should have across the board appeal among guitar enthusiasts. www.dennyjiosa.com
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VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE
author: JOHN HEIDT
THIS IS FROM THE LATEST EDITION OF VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE, WITH THE REVEIW WRITTEN BY JOHN HEIDT.
Denny Jiosa is a player of immense chops and fire, and while jazz dominates this album, Jiosa is also at home with R&B and pop,and cuts like "Forward Motion" give him a chance to show off his inventive soloing and strong use of melody.
Almost every cut here sticks. Jiosa is a master of the light funk that dominates smooth jazz, but on "I Am Roxane," his fiery playing overrides any mixed emotions about the genre. His soloing mixes single lines with octaves, and there's even fuzzed-out rock. Effortlessly, both from a compositional and playing standpoint, he then glides right back into octaves to wrap it up. He shows off a lovely ballad touch on several tunes, including "Wounded Warriors," with it's great melody and fine playing. Same goes for his chordal work on the lovely "The Glass Half Full." The CD has a bonus cut that pays homage to Wes Montgomery, from whom Jiosa takes a lot of cues; "East of Montgomery" is an old-school jazz piece and the connection is obvious. Like the latter-day Wes, he plays with fire, grace, and blazing technique.-- John Heidt
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author: Valeriy Gulevich
Thanks Denny! I like this new one as well as all your others CD. I got a lot of impressions from Sunny version - it's really great!
Dreams Like This became by my favorite albums on this week!
Once again -Thank You!
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