Bands: Solo Artist, Lee Konitz New Quartet, San Francisco String Trio, Ratatet, Electreo

Bio:

Bassist/vocalist/composer, Jeff Denson has balanced a full career as both an acclaimed performing musician and a highly respected educator. Jeff has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe with both his own groups - including the renowned cooperative trio Minsarah - and has worked with some of jazz's finest artists, such as Brian Blade, Anthony Davis, Joe Lovano, Jane Ira Bloom, Kenny Werner, Charles McPherson, Dave Douglas, Ralph Alessi, Cuong Vu, Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Lionel Loueke, Kendrick Scott, Vadim Neselovskyi, Leo Genovese, Warren Wolf and an ongoing relationship with the legendary alto saxophonist, Lee Konitz since 2007. Jeff has the unique distinction of being the bassist in the Lee Konitz New Quartet, a group that Kontiz says is his only "actual band" in his 60+ year career.

Jeff has released over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader as of 2017, and is currently working on his next projects. To date, he has released five albums under his own name, including Secret World on Between the Lines Records, a quartet featuring Ralph Alessi, Florian Weber and Dan Weiss, a pair of duo recordings on pfMENTUM Records: Two, with the remarkable Swiss clarinetist Claudio Puntin; and I'll Fly Away, a re-imagination of hymns and spirituals with pianist Joshua White, Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz on Ridgeway Records featuring the legendary Konitz, Dan Zemelman and Jon Arkin and Concentric Circles also on Ridgeway Records featuring Dan Zemelman, Alan Hall and the world's premiere jazz bassoonist, Paul Hanson (formerly with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones).

With a doctorate from the University of California San Diego, Jeff is a full professor at the California Jazz Conservatory, as well as the Artistic Director of Ridgeway Arts, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization dedicated to developing cultural and educational imperatives.

For more info on Jeff:
www.jeffdenson.com

""Master of the jazz bass."
- Lee Hilldebrand, SF Chronicle

"Double bassist Jeff Denson capitalizes on his considerable gifts as an improviser, interpreter and sonic trailblazer..."
- Ken Micaleff , Downbeat Magazine

"Denson is breaking new musical ground, proving that he should be counted as one of the leading bassists of contemporary jazz."
- Teddy Doering, Jazz Podium/p>

Zon bass(es) of choice:
Zon SONUS CUSTOM JD-5

Discography:

Lead, Produced and Arranged:

2016

Jeff Denson Quartet "Concentric Circles" Ridgeway Records

2015

"Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz" Ridgeway Records

2014

Jeff Denson & Joshua White "I'll Fly Away" pfMENTUM Records

2014

Jeff Denson & Claudio Puntin "Two", pfMENTUM Records

2012

"Secret World" Jeff Denson, Between the Lines Records

Co-Lead, Co-Produced, and Co-Arranged:

2017

San Francisco String Trio "May I Introduce to You", Ridgeway Records TBR "Lee Konitz/Florian Weber/Jeff Denson/Adam Cruz Live at Birdland"

2010

"Blurring the Lines" Minsarah, Enja Records

2007

"Deep Lee", Minsarah with Lee Konitz, Enja Records

2006

"Minsarah" Minsarah, Enja Records

2004

"The Bill Peterson Trio", Bill Peterson Trio, BPMusic.

2003

"Minsarah" Minsarah, Hubermusic.

2001

"Let’s Close Our Eyes", Breathing Three.

Produced:

2017

"Negative Press Project", Ridgeway Records

2016

"Opaluna" Ridgeway Records

2015

"Arctic", Ratatet, Alan Hall, Ridgeway Records

2014

"Lush Life", The California Jazz Conservatory Jazz Repertoire Ensemble Under the Direction of Jeff Denson, CJC Records

Sideman:

2017

Negative Press Project, Ridgeway Records (Vocalist)

2016

"Opaluna", Opaluna, Ridgeway Records (Vocalist)

2015

"Arctic", Ratatet, Alan Hall, Ridgeway Records

2014

"Standards Live: At the Village Vanguard" Lee Konitz, Enja Records

2014

"Sepiasonic", Sepiasonic, Arjunamusic Records

2010

"Magnolia" Ian Tordella, Circumvention Records

2009

“Lee Konitz New Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard", Enja Records

2008

"Soundless Windchimes," Soundtrack for Berlin Film Festival
Premiered, Chinese/Swiss Film by director Kit Hung and score composed by Claudio Puntin and Insa Rudolph

2005

"Reverie", Inga Swearingen with The Bill Peterson Trio.

2004

"Florida State University Jazz Ensemble featuring Carl Allen". "The Nicholas Simmion Quintet", featuring Lee Konitz. "Detmold Musik Hochschule Gospel Choir", Detmold Musik Hochschule Gospel Choir. "Transfers", The Bryan Leitch Trio.

2003

"Notes on the Bridge", Mariah Picot and the Bill Peterson Trio, Blue Music.

2002

"Early Summer Sketch", Bjorn Wennas Quartet, Beartones.

"Music for Six", Ben Adams Sextet, Brindley Music.

2000

"U Street Sounds", Sound track for the award winning, PBS aired, documentary directed by Greg Smalfelt and score composed by Brian Keegan, (Communicator Award for Best Music).