Jazz Road with Denise King

Influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin, Denise King is an expressive, big-voiced vocalist that combines jazz with elements of R&B, Blues, and Gospel. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Denise King is, brimming with energy, good humor, and swings with authentic jazz expression! She performs live at The Lyric Theatre on Friday April 29th as part Jazz Road, a program of South Arts.

As an international performer, King has delighted audiences from the USA, France, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, Serbia, Belarus, Poland, Japan, Kazakstan, Spain, Russia, Siberia, Greece, UK, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Makhachkala, Luxembourg, and participated in the International Jazz Day in Paris, as well as having sung at almost all of the top venues in Philadelphia, several in New York, Paris, Turkey, Brazil, Africa, Germany, and Japan during the past 25 years. She started her musical career in her thirties and has proclaimed herself a torchbearer. A keeper of the flame. Denise is likened to a "natural singer" for she organically learned to sing, outside of any educational system, but through the natural progression of listening to recordings and watching live jazz performances. She holds the preservation and presentation of the traditional style of Jazz singing close to her heart. No gimmicks, no pyrotechnics, just an intense focus on the melody and the lyrical content. It is this philosophy that finds her acting as the Ambassadress for the nostalgic sounds of Jazz. From her warm and welcoming presence on stage, the subtle nuance of bygone days, and the recordings that speak to the natural elegance of an era that greatly influenced her life, Denise King is keeping the romance and nostalgia of all the great ladies of Jazz alive and well.

Opening for Ms. King is Intrepid Jazz Band. A Lexington, KY community jazz ensemble, born out of its original larger Big Band Jazz orchestra roots, Intrepid Jazz Band is no stranger to traditional jazz music, having showcased its jazz standards at venues throughout the Bluegrass by performing for public and private events, including charity events and Swing Dancing events. Intrepid Jazz Band Genny Ledbetter (flute/vocals), Rick "Doc" Pellegrini (drums), Benson Lange (trombone), Terry McDonough (bass guitar), Paul Strang (Keyboard), David Maynard (saxophone), Steve Barnes (guitar), and Rick Jouett (trumpet). Intrepid Jazz Band will feature a surprise special guest performer.