Denis Solee is a quintessential 'musician's musician' whose career spans over six decades of high-level session work and solo artistry. Based in Nashville since 1974, Solee's versatility is legendary, having performed in contexts ranging from military bands and symphony orchestras to backing pop and soul icons.
His solo discography, largely released on labels like Green Hills and Village Square, focuses on the intersection of Cool Jazz and Traditional Pop. He is particularly noted for his 'Songbook' series, where he translates the vocal nuances of legendary singers like Frank Sinatra into instrumental saxophone performances. Critically, he is praised for his tone quality, which is often described as 'velvety' or 'buttery,' and his impeccable sense of melodic timing. Within the jazz community, he is also a respected educator at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. His cultural position is that of a guardian of the 'elegant instrumental' tradition, providing a sophisticated, high-fidelity alternative to both challenging avant-garde jazz and overly commercial smooth jazz.
Shares romantic, swing, smooth jazz, cool jazz (signature)
Shares cool jazz, smooth jazz, crisp_clean, vocal jazz (signature)
Shares cool jazz, smooth jazz, crisp_clean, vocal jazz (signature)
Shares cool jazz, smooth jazz, crisp_clean, vocal jazz (signature)
Shares cool jazz, smooth jazz, vocal jazz, upright bass (signature)
Shares cool jazz, swing, vocal jazz, saxophone (signature)
Shares cool jazz, smooth jazz, crisp_clean, vocal jazz (signature)
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