Austin, TX (Top40 Charts/ Dena Taylor) - Word is that jazz vocalist, Dena Taylor, will once again be returning to the studio and her musical roots - jazz standards from the American Songbook. Currently, Taylor is in that mind-boggling process of selecting which song to include. Anyone knowledgeable of the music industry knows that it's no easy chore and nothing that is done quickly particularly if the artist is as 'picky' about her music as is Taylor.
However, this time she is letting her fans become part of that CD by helping her select the songs. Taylor has put a form on her website (https://www.denataylormusic.com) that fans can use to nominate the song they would most like to hear her sing. She's adding a little 'incentive' onto the whole process .. the nominator of any song selected and ultimately appearing on the CD will also be included in the liner notes.
This new CD will also be more upfront about her charitable work. Taylor lost her mother to Alzheimer's in July of 2010 so not only is she dedicating the CD to her but she'll be setting aside a percentage of the sales specifically for donation to the Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org) in her mother's name.
Taylor lends her personal support & musical talent to a number of causes that support others who have endured adversity or are in the midst of their challenges and it is a testament to Taylor's talent, however, that her sound never seems "preachy." Rather, the adversity Taylor has faced personally lends her voice a hard, knowing edge - like that of a Gladys Knight at her prime - that gives her music a ripened maturity so many pop stars lack.
Ms. Taylor changed more than just cities with her relocation to Austin, Texas in 2009. Her recent release, Certitude (rel. Mar, 2010), showed strong confidence in both sound and style and that confidence is well founded. Certitude has introduced a new approach and a new life to the music she sings. Says Bree Noble of Women of Substance Radio, 'Although Dena has been known for putting her own hip and modern twist on jazz standards in the vein of Ella Fitzgerald, Certitude is a new, mature artistic direction for Taylor.'
The opinion of Rosana Caban, when she reviewed Taylor's Certitude for MyMusicSuccess.com was: 'Smoky, sexy, soft - the velvety voice of Dena Taylor dominates not just a corner of the room but indeed the entire wall of sound created by the "on" button of the stereo. And her voice on this new CD is the one thing that has not changed... it's still the same singer who captivated listeners with her 2008 release, Round Midnight.'
Taylor's return to the American Songbook will thrill long-time fans who have been hoping for another award winning repeat of her first CD, Round Midnight. As Tony Lawson of IMI Sound said, 'There are many artists out there doing a splendid job with the great classics of jazz and blues, but the sensitivity, the depth of feeling and the richness of colour that Dena infuses into her performances are in a class of their own. Duly supported by a band of first-class musicians, Dena is that rare combination of outstanding talent and enchanting charisma that one cannot but feel fortunate to come across in the vast world of music.'
This vocalist's appeal is international. Argentina's Miquel Montez says, 'eres maravillosa.' From Italy's Daybox Record, Max Mafia comes, 'Dena Taylor is without doubt a splendid surprise.' Carol Hayes of Australia's Shoalhaven Radio said, 'It is my pleasure to present Dena to the listening audience of the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.' American songwriter, Christopher Morse, says, 'You are the real deal-a classic American jazz singer!'
Taylor's road to success has been hard-won, even inspirational. Upon leaving the military, Taylor found herself in a violent car accident that left her with a severe brain injury requiring a full two years to regain her ability to speak and walk again. And, since that time, she has also waged her own personal battle against breast cancer.
Inspite of it all, this vocalist has one of the brightest smiles you could imagine and she uses it frequently. A jovial spirit with a robust laugh is what you will find if you're fortunate enough to spend any time with her. It's that spirit combined with her talent that has seen her working with notables such as Ron Teixeira, Ron Pirtle, Dave Dunscome, John Fitzgerald, Redd Volkaert and Ernie Durawa to name just a few.
Taylor's music can be heard on websites: https://www.denataylormusic.com, https://www.denataylor.bandcamp.com, https://www.facebook.com/denataylormusic, https://www.reverbnation.com/denataylor and it can be purchased on: iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby (https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/DenaTaylor) and https://www.denataylor.bandcamp.com.
