jazz pianist and guitarist
Welcome to the Graham Dent web site! ... now containing several audio clips taken from recent CDs. Have a listen. Here's a taster from Personal Freeway!
Dominoes (Dent)
Graham is a modern jazz musician based in the midlands. His main instrument is piano/keyboard but he also plays guitar. Currently he is working mainly with his contemporary modern jazz group named Jucamaya, which showcases original material by Graham, and some carefully chosen jazz standards. His original music features melodies that are memorable, stylish and in tune with the jazz tradition, but have a distinctly modern edge. Jucamaya started life through Graham's collaboration with saxophonist Ian Hill, whose lyrical style and improvisational skill are well respected on the jazz circuit. The band line-up is completed by Richard Baker on trombone, Tom Bull on bass and Steve Laffy (or Nick Millward) on drums, all outstanding professional musicians. The band's first CD called Thinking of Joe (remembering Joe Zawinul) was released in 2008 and was well received by jazz audiences and the musician community alike. A second CD called Curious Terrain has just been released in Sep 2009. Listen to a complete track from the new album called Reaching Beyond, and a clip from the title track the funky Curious Terrain. There are more tracks on the latest CDs page or better still, go visit the Jucamaya website, www.jucamaya.com.
Reaching Beyond (Dent)
Curious Terrain (Dent)
Here are some sound clips from Jucamaya's first album Thinking of Joe.
Jessica's Day (Dent)
Thinking of Joe (Dent)
JUCAMAYA
And also.........
Graham regularly accompanies jazz vocalists notably the Birmingham based jazz and soul
singer Roy Forbes, and Sue Kibbey. He has made CDs with both artistes. Go
to the More CDs page to listen to some tracks.
In 2007 Graham completed work on his first solo album titled Personal Freeway in which he explored increased freedom in improvisation and a dip into Indian, Spanish and Latin music. Previous to that he played on another album Last Orders featuring singer Roy Forbes and Fresco. The album, which features some well known songs ranging from Stevie Wonder to Ben E King was produced by Graham and also includes several original songs composed by him, Ian Hill and Roy.
In May 2007 Graham's piano trio backed jazz vocalist Sue Kibbey in a concert at The Pizza on The Park in London. Sue consistently creates a certain empathy with her audiences that reflects warmth, sincerity and fun. Fortunately the concert was recorded and is now available on CD. On her previous CD featuring the songs of Jimmy Van Heusen she joined forces with the Gilad Atzmon Quartet, one of the finest bands around.
Other midlands based musicians with whom Graham plays regularly are drummers Steve Street, and Alan Savage, and bass players Rob Evans, Dave Jenkins, Adrian Litvinoff and Mike Green.
Find out where Graham is playing soon by viewing his gig list. He regularly appears in line-ups ranging from duo to quintet and plays at jazz clubs, bars and restaurants around the midlands, and at weddings and other private functions. He also teaches jazz piano. If you wish to book him or any band in which he plays, buy a CD, or have some jazz piano lessons, please contact him by e-mail at info@grahamdent.com
All CDs are priced at £10 including UK postage. Personal Freeway, Thinking of Joe and Curious Terrain can be purchased on www.jazzcds.co.uk
Graham Dent is also on My Space at www.myspace.com/grahamdentmusic
Last updated 17/09/2009