Denise King Quartet at Porgy & Bess

Denise KING

My Destiny

Denise King is a native of West Philadelphia, where she was born 31 October 1964. She can be called a "natural singer" because she learned to sing, outside of any educational system, but through listening to recordings and live jazz performance. Considered "late in life" (at 30 years old ) she began her singing career...quite by accident, having never planned to become a singer. Denise King is, above all, a kind small woman, brimming with energy, good humor and swing! As part of a tradition rooted in the history of jazz, she has sublimated the trials of life through her art in authentic jazz expression. Denise King does not overplay, or use tricks, she fully lives the songs she sings. ...

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Denise KING

My Destiny

Denise King is a native of West Philadelphia, where she was born 31 October 1964. She can be called a "natural singer" because she learned to sing, outside of any educational system, but through listening to recordings and live jazz performance. Considered "late in life" (at 30 years old ) she began her singing career...quite by accident, having never planned to become a singer. Denise King is, above all, a kind small woman, brimming with energy, good humor and swing! As part of a tradition rooted in the history of jazz, she has sublimated the trials of life through her art in authentic jazz expression. Denise King does not overplay, or use tricks, she fully lives the songs she sings.

She is also a living testimony that Europe remains, nonetheless, a promised land-especially Paris for American musicians. This feeling continues when the dynamism of jazz in the United States is not commensurate with what is on this side of the Atlantic. While surprising, the European dream for Jazz artist remains strong in its history, and empowerment for African Américains artist especially while racial tensions continue to haunt Obama's America.

On her first trip to Paris in the mid nineties, Denise King performed at La Villa, a popular club in St-Germain-des-Prés for a week, This engagement became a reality when, after sending the manager of La Villa dozens of promotional materials, a cancellation open the door for her first Jazz performance in Paris. When she accepted the contract, she jumped on a plane and the rest is history. There she met pianist Olivier Hutman. The performances were well received but did not insure her return. A few years later, in 2008, Mr,Hutman contacted her to propose working on a project together which provided an opportunity for the singer to move to Paris part time What follows is a collaboration that lasted six and produced two recordings and tours throughout Europe.

In October, she released, Seasons of Jazz (Dot Time Records). which is a collection of four mini-albums (EP), Volume 1 (Fall) has been available since last November. She will also be a part of the International Jazz Day in Paris on 30 April, 2016 at Tres Honore Salon (35, place du Marché St Honoré, Paris 1).

Interview by Jerome Partage
Patrick Martineau Photos


© Jazz Hot 675, Spring 2016

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