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:
Toots Thielemans, Chaka Kahn, Sting, Jean -Luc Ponty, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Chris Smither, Joao Gilberto, Gypsy Kings, Joni Mitchell...the list is endless.
My grandmother, Rev. Iva Harris, was among the early female gospel musicians to record. She recorded on the King Record Label in the 1940's and 1950's. She recorded several 78's and also played guitar and fiddle. My Mother, Alene Aleta Harris (Dennis), is also a vocalist who recorded several projects and performed with Jack Teagarden in the 1940's.
Guess I was genetically destined.
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