Album Notes

Guitarist Denny Jiosa: DREAMS LIKE THIS


Every artist owns a desire to craft a project that most perfectly represents the substance of their God-given creativity. It becomes a very personal statement, and often, the work for which they are best–known. For Denny Jiosa, the release of Dreams Like This is a defining moment, the product not only of five years of work since his last release, but a faithful rendition of his musical influences and tastes. “THIS is the album I’ve always wanted to make!” says Jiosa, and it shows.

“I started writing for this project almost immediately after the completion of Body2Body,” Denny muses. “I love all the albums that I created for my previous record label, 1201 Music, but I had begun to realize that my musical interests had a wider range than the format I’d been writing for. My early influences stretched all the way from Wes Montgomery to Carlos Santana. That’s quite a distance. I wanted to make an album that captured all those things that made me want to play music in the first place.”

You’ll find those flavors here: straight-ahead jazz, Latin, smooth jazz and cinematic landscapes all unfold effortlessly giving us a glimpse of Denny’s prodigious musical vocabulary. He has an uncanny way of expressing deep emotions through the twists, turns and nuances of his seductive melodies. The song Chill Pill opens the CD with a funky contemporary groove with some surprises. Embracing the Fire sizzles with high-voltage Latin energy. I Am Roxane, which the enhanced CD also features as a full length video, smolders with provocative sensuality and you’ll want to savor the languorous The Glass Half Full like a glass of fine wine.

The centerpiece of this album, however, may be Denny’s lusciously smooth, masterfully soulful rendition of Sunny, which features the original composer and performer, Bobby Hebb contributing scat vocals. Denny recalls, “I’ve loved that song since first hearing it on the radio in 1966. A friend introduced me to Bobby, who agreed to come to my studio to listen to the version I’d recorded of his song. Not only did he give his overwhelming approval, he wanted to sing on the track! Nothing could’ve made an album about my musical dreams more complete.”

“God blessed me with a passion for music; I knew I was to play music from very early on… it was written on my heart.” When Denny looks inside, Dreams Like This encapsulates the music he finds written there.

About the Artist
Industry insiders have recognized Denny Jiosa’s abilities for some time. His five previous CD releases and a string of chart-topping singles have earned Denny a steadfast following. His most popular single, Lights of the City, garnered a SESAC national airplay award. Musical colleagues have long relied upon his abilities. In addition to his work as a producer, he is credited both as guitarist and recording engineer on several Grammy nominated releases. Dreams Like This once again finds Denny among friends, in the ranks of world–class musicians, including Chester Thompson (Genesis, Santana, Frank Zappa); Chris Kent (Take 6, Larry Carlton); Glen Caruba (Kirk Whalum, Glen Frey); Pat Coil (Pat Metheny, Michael McDonald), and fellow artists Dan Moretti and Rob McGaha.

Promotional Keys
• Enhanced CD featuring Roxane song video, an interview with the artist and extended album credits
• An additional video for the song Sunny is currently in production
• National media advertising with co-branded endorsement products
• National tour dates scheduled to promote the CD
• Radio singles serviced to 200 stations



QUOTES
Dirk Sutro, the author of JAZZ FOR DUMMIES states, “While some of the players are a little too smooth for my taste, some other artists in the contemporary jazz category make more challenging music.” He lists Denny Jiosa among his favorites in the company of such stellar musicians as
Fourplay, Spyro Gyra and Joe Sample.

JAZZTIMES MAGAZINE “Jiosa’s lithe melody touches both twinkling harmonies and darker chords, as if illustrating the complexity of humanity.”

LIVE PERFORMANCE QUOTES
“An incredible jazz ensemble and delightfully entertaining”
Fred Puglia,Decatur Celebration

“An electrifying show!” Peter Woolfolk,Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society

“Stunning performance...just fabulous!” Jane Olds,Clearwater Jazz Festival

“His performance was a great blend of contemporary and traditional jazz,
with improvising reminicint of Wes Montgomery! Music Boulevard