Tanya Dennis
About Tanya Dennis
Vocalist, Songwriter, Violinist, Rhythm Guitarist, Record Producer and Music Arranger
Genre: World Fusion Smooth Jazz, Blues, Americana
Home: Joelton, TN (Northwest of Nashville, TN.)
Publishing: Gypsy Laurel Music, BMI
Loves to cook, garden and travel.
Hobbies: sailing, canal barging, diving, fishing, and all things nautical.
*Featured Artist in European Festivals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Lapland, Holland and Germany
*Vocalist /violinist for Jazz Legend Ira Sullivan
*Vocalist /electric violin for Miami Rock Legend Joe Denato
*Lead singer / electric violin with legendary Miami Funk-Fusion-Jazz group “Amber”
*1999 European Rising Star Award
*2000 www.justplainfolks.com “Waterdance”, Awards for “Country CD of the Year, Blues Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year
*Toured as supporting vocalist, violinist and rhythm guitar player with : Faith Hill- 5 time Grammy winner, Janie Fricke -2 time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and Skip Ewing -BMI songwriter of the year, Triple Play award and CMA Song of the Year Artist to name a few.
*Commercials written for and featured in ads for PAX television network, Mazda Motor Corporation and Safeway Foods
*Featured song “Slow Burn”, on CD Baby Artist compilation
*Vocalist / electric violin with Nashville based 8 piece group, Retro Lunatics
Discography
Tanya Dennis "White Sails Blue Skies" (World Fusion Smooth Jazz)
Tanya Dennis "Waterdance" (A mix of blues, country, americana, jazz)
Tanya Dennis "Apartment #9 (Country)
Quote from Tanya:
“Musically, the biggest challenge for me has been trying to stick to one genre but thankful I've allowed myself the freedom not to. I enjoy performing and writing with a diverse palette. Over the years I have explored Jazz, Samba, Afro Cuban, Gypsy, Old Time, Irish, Electronic, Eastern Indian, Tango, Flamenco, Rock, Country, Funk, Fusion, and R&B.
The world is full of music and I love to cross cultural and musical boundaries. It is a universal language and a treasure to be given and shared.
I have been particularly drawn to Brazilian, ethnic fusion and Latin music since the 1980’s. When Toots Thielemans (my greatest musical influence), released his ‘Brazil Project’, I was hooked, both on Toots and the music. Just before White Sails blue Skies was finished, I contacted Toots and asked him to be my guest star on this project. Sadly, he had just retired and passed a short while later.
“WHITE SAILS BLUE SKIES” is a manifestation of all the years of listening to these genres and 10 years on the water.
A little over a decade ago after a series of life changing events, I bought Winterhawk, a 50 foot cutter rigged sailboat and ventured out to fulfill a long anticipated bucket – list plan to sail the Caribbean and the Pacific Northwest. I needed to reinvent my life musically and personally.
“WHITE SAILS BLUE SKIES” is the child of that journey and dedicated to
Toots Thielemans.
It truly is a work created for water people…… music to sail by.
Musical Homage
Out of the greatest love and respect for their influences, I pay homage to just a few artists:
Chaka Kahn, Sting, Jean -Luc Ponty, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Chris Smither, Joao Gilberto, Gypsy Kings, Joni Mitchell...the list is endless.
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