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Louise Denson: Pianist, Composer
Louise Denson is an award-winning pianist/composer/arranger with more than 30 years professional experience. Her training in jazz, Afro-Cuban/Brazilian and classical music make her a versatile performer with an extensive repertoire at her command. She has worked in many settings - as a solo pianist, in instrumental or vocal duos/trios/quartets/ quintets, in salsa, merengue and Brazilian ensembles and big bands. She has a commitment to melody, rich, jazz-inflected harmony and to creating music which communicates on a strong emotional level with audiences.
Canadian-born, Louise migrated to Brisbane in 1999 where she worked as a jazz lecturer and gigging musician for 20+ years. Highlights from the subtropics include working with vocalist Ingrid James - 2 CD recordings and performances in London, Sydney, Melbourne and across Queensland. She also recorded 4 CDs under her own name. Nova Nova (2021) earned 4-stars in the Weekend Australian Review - ‘Eight cleverly arranged compositions by Denson produce beautiful improvisations from all players’ (Eric Meyers).
Louise is well known as a composer/arranger. Colours of Your Love (2018, w/Ingrid James and Wild Silk Strings Project) featured compositions/arrangements for jazz quintet, voice and strings, receiving acclaim from around the world - ‘The listener is taken on a thrilling journey through an eclectic repertoire with a vast emotional landscape’ (Pete Churchill, professor of Jazz Composition, Royal Academy of Music, London).
Louise’s compositions have been performed/recorded by artists as diverse as Downbeat poll-winning trombonist Bill Watrous, Bell Award-winning vocalist Elly Hoyt, Viney- Grinberg Duo, Muses Trio, and Southern Cross Soloists. ‘Saborea el momento’ was commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. mulaka milaythina, a 35-min work for 10-piece jazz/classical ensemble and narrator, was commissioned by the Clarence Jazz Festival 2023, supported by Festivals Australia. Cooktown Cantata: Songs of Love, Place and Identity, a 50-min work for 3 voices and 6-piece ensemble, was commissioned for the 250th anniversary of the voyage of the Endeavour to Far North Queensland. Denson continues to perform and compose from her base in Hobart, and to collaborate with renowned musicians across Australia.
