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The Phil Denny surge has become a topic of conversation and interest among an international audience spawning loyal and borderless fanfare. Impressive artistry, presence and passion combined with a unique ability to connect with people on and off the stage have earned Denny a resume of notable achievements in just a short time and give reason to play on.
Since emerging onto the smooth jazz scene in 2012 much traction has been made by the efforts of saxophonist and businessman, Phil Denny. The 5x Billboard charting, independent artist has been described as a passionate and soulful player often captivating audiences with his smooth, sexy yet energetic style. Friends and fans alike often describe him as a people’s musician having developed and maintained a very active, loyal and ever-growing fan base even before the release of his internationally recognized 2012 debut CD, Crossover.
The identifiable sound of his silky smooth tenor sax is perhaps most familiar on the hit track Diggin' On which scored an impressive #13 position on the Billboard chart. The overall success of his sophomore release, Upswing (2015) helped to further position Denny among his peers and format listeners and was motivation to step up yet again. Align, the forth studio album due out June 2018 Denny considers to be a best-yet collection of eleven original tracks written under the influence of a cast of music friends and welcomes great artist collaborations. The debut single, Switch Up was #1 most added on Billboard in its debut week and in just three weeks made its debut on the Billboard chart at #28 and jumped ten slots to #18 the following week.
Performances of note to date include an appearance at the 2012 Dubai International Jazz Festival, Headlining Jazz Under the Stars 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya, co-headlining 2014, 2013 Arizona Jazz Festival, 2013/2014 GrandJazzFest, 2014 Inaugural Shoreline Jazz Festival, 2015/2016 Cabin Fever Jazz Festival, 2016 Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival, 2017 Cancun Jazz Festival, 20th Seabreeze Jazz Festival (2018) and is a frequent performer on the venue/club scene. Additionally, Denny enjoys performing as sideman to guitarist Peter White and more.
“Soultrain catches up with Phil in a Q&A interview.”
Mr Joe Walker - Soultrain
“Smooth Operator”
Ty Fourquer - City Pulse
“New CD for Lansing's Phil Denny”
Anne Erickson - Lansing State Journal
“Phil Denny releases his sophomore CD "Upswing"”
Phil Denny - Global
“Pink and Blue Notes chats with Phil Denny about his latest CD release "Upswing."”
Monica Murphy Eaves - Pink and Blue Notes
“Phil Denny returns with more tasty lyricism, sultry flow and stylish grooves on the diverse and well-balanced sophomore release "Upswing," following a stellar “Crossover” debut which garnered three Billboard charted singles. Denny’s 11-track “Upswing” album infuses elements of R&B, urban vibe, uptempo pop and funk, and demonstrates a clear ability to raise the bar while displaying growth in artistry. With a proven track record at radio and an already spiraling discussion surrounding the latest release, saxophonist Phil Denny rides on the “Upswing” into the next phase of a burgeoning career.”
Phil Denny - "Upswing" Album Preview
“Phil Denny selected as a 2014 Jazz In M.E.E. Magazine Jazz Watch Male Artist”
Melody Warren - Jazz In M.E.E. Magazine
“Phil performs holiday sounds live on FOX 2 Detroit”
FOX 2 Detroit Morning News
“Lansing State Journal covers the 3rd Annual Phil Denny & Friends Christmas Collective”
Anne Erickson - Lansing State Journal
“Soul Train reviews concert produced by Phil Denny and Holland Productions”
Joe Walker - Soul Train
“Phil Denny to perform with Grammy-nominated R&B vocalist Stokley Williams in his hometown of Lansing, MI”
Emily Caswell - MLive
“Phil speaks with Pink and Blue Notes. Click link for audio interview.”
Pink and Blue Notes
“Phil Denny to perform with Stokely of Mint Condition”
Promo Only
“Images from Jazz Under the Stars 2014 (Nairobi, Kenya)”
Jazz Under the Stars 2014
“Phil Denny returns to Nairobi, Kenya by popular demand for Jazz Under the Stars 2014.”
Jazz Under the Stars
“Phil Denny shares his story in the Capital Gains story "Local musicians go solo"”
Rich Tupica - Capital Gains
“Phil Denny added to inaugural Shoreline Jazz Festival”
Shoreline Jazz Festival
"Crossover" hits #26 on the BDS Smooth Jazz National Airplay Chart
BDS
“Contemporary urban jazz led by blazing sax from Lansing native Phil Denny. Featuring selections from his debut CD, "Crossover." Recorded Live at Lansing JazzFest in Oldtown August 2013.
Phil Denny, saxophones; Anthony Stanco, trumpet; Demetrius Nabors, keyboards; Nate Winn, drums; Ed Tate, bass; Gary Johnson, guitar. More about Phil Denny at
phildenny.com”
WKAR BackStage Pass
"The Journey" FULL EDITION short film is now playing!
Filmed, produced and edited by Betwixt Magnolias - "The Journey"
“Saxophonist and Lansing, MI native writes "Michigan is Resilient" as part of the LSJ column "what you love about Michigan and why you choose to live here."”
Phil Denny - Lansing State Journal
“Phil's latest single "Crossover" is added to Sirius XM Watercolors.”
Sirius XM Watercolors
“Phil Denny profiled and featured as cover artist in the latest edition of The Jazz In M.E.E. Magazine”
Melody Warren - The Jazz In M.E.E.
“Phil performs his new song "Radio Flyer" live on FOX 2 Detroit”
FOX 2 Detroit
“Phil Denny kicks off the season in style with The Messenger.”
Brent Black - Critical Jazz
“Cruise to Jamaica with Phil Denny and others aboard the 2014 I-Jams Jazz Cruise! Watch video for more information.”
I-Jams Jazz Cruise
“Performance Images of the Soul-Jazz Gentleman Live from Chicago, IL ”
Al Junco - Al Junco Photography
“Phil Denny Live in Kenya”
CTV - Capital TV
“Phil Denny to headline "Jazz Under the Stars" in Nairobi, Kenya”
Jazz Under the Stars
“Saxophonist Phil Denny and GRandJazzFest together again tonight for the second time”
Jeff Kaczmarczyk - MLive
“Phil Denny performs on FOX 2 Detroit Morning News”
FOX - FOX 2 Detroit
“Phil Denny added to the I-Jams Jazz Cruise 2014.”
I-Jams Jazz Cruise
“Detroit Jazz Magazine & MaCharmony talk music and travel with Phil Denny”
Detroit Jazz Magazine & MaCharmony
“Hybrid Jazz interviews saxophonist Phil Denny. Listen to the full one-hour episode here.”
Hybrid Jazz - Hybrid Jazz with Trish Hennessey
“SmoothViews catches up with saxophonist Phil Denny”
Bernie Scott - SmoothViews
“Phil to join legendary guitarist Peter White as sideman in Dayton, OH.”
Ticket Center Stage
“Phil Denny to headline 2013 GRandJazzFest”
WZZM 13 ABC
“Gallery Suite Jazz Series Draws Crowds”
Anne Erickson - Lansing State Journal
"Traffic Jam" climbs to #23 on the Billboard chart and is #3 Most Added this week in its tenth week at radio.
BDS - Billboard
"Traffic Jam" added into rotation on SiriusXM Watercolors (Ch. 66) - Smooth/Contemporary Jazz as the song gains traction in the format.
Sirius XM - Watercolors
"Traffic Jam" drives its way to #28 on the Billboard National Smooth Jazz Airplay chart.
BDS - Billboard
"Traffic Jam" debuts at #30 on the Billboard National Smooth Jazz Airplay chart.
BDS - Billboard
"Traffic Jam" is #1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz New and Active Chart this week.
BDS - Billboard
“Traffic Jam selected as "Uncovered & Discovered" on SiriusXM Watercolors.”
Sirius XM Watercolors - Sirius XM Watercolors
“Traffic Jam hits "Most Increased Plays" chart on Billboard in its second week at radio.”
Billboard - BDS Radio Charts
“Rick O'Dell of SmoothJazzChicago.net interviews Phil Denny”
Rick O'Dell - Inside the Industry - Part 3: The Artist
"Traffic Jam" debuts at #2 most added on the Billboard Smooth Jazz National airplay chart.
Billboard - BDS Radio Chart
“Check out listener reviews from Amazon.com. Please post your review of "Crossover" so others may consider your remarks when considering purchasing my music.”
Various Listeners - Amazon
“Valentines Day with RnR hosted by Deon Yates w/ special guest Phil Denny”
Family Circle Productions
“Phil Denny is an Independent artist that plays the smoother side of the jazz street and does it with flair, finesse and spot on phrasing. In short, I dig this cat he can blow!”
Brent Black - @CriticalJazz
“German blog OV eezyvibes writes about "Crossover"”
Markus Müller - OV eezyvibes
“GRand Jazz Fest is this weekend!”
WZZM ABC 13
“Phil Denny on ABC 13”
WZZM ABC 13 Grand Rapids, MI
“Lansing jazz saxophonist Phil Denny celebrates debut full-length album”
Anne Erickson - Lansing State Journal
“A Smooth "Crossover"
Local artist Phil Denny drops debut CD”
Rich Tupica - City Pulse
“His smooth-as-butter debut, entitled Crossover, carries a load of charm and swagger.”
Ronald Jackson - The Smooth Jazz Ride
“Listen in to my recent interview on Talking Smooth Jazz!”
Talking Smooth Jazz
“LIVE interview segment from my appearance on FOX 2 Detroit Morning Show.”
FOX 2 Detroit Morning Show
“Lansing saxophonist Phil Denny talkes about his forthcoming album "Crossover" and entrepreneurship.”
Michigan Business Network
“More info on the GRandJazz Fest in the www.grandjazzfest.org Newsroom”
GRandJazz Fest
“For local saxophone artist and father Phil Denny, music is much more than simply playing an instrument; it’s about a connection — with his family and his fans.”
Julie Becker of CAWL - Women's Lifestyle Magazine
“2nd Annual Really Jazz Benefit Concert promotional commercial”
Really Living Corporation - Really Jazz Concert
“Grand Rapids Jazz Festival brings guitarist Tim Bowman, saxophonist Phil Denny to town in August”
MLive.com - MLive
“Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival 2012: Phillip Denny, Gaetano Partipilo and Deborah Coleman Band by My Dubai My City - 02/18/2012”
Traveling Shoe Media - MyDubaiMyCity.com
“An interview segment sharing a little bit about me and my upcoming CD "Crossover" that we discussed while I was co-hosting Michigan in Motion. Be sure to check out both segments 5 & 6 from 3/19/12.”
Michigan in Motion on the Michigan Business Network
“LCC Alum and Jazz Musician Phil Denny stops by Connections in this segment. He talks about his experience at LCC and also his current endeavors which include...”
Connections
“Music, in its own unique way, leaves a mark on people. One of those specially marked people is LCC alumnus and saxophonist Phil Denny.”
Amber Glomb - The Lookout
“Lansing Community College spotlights Alumni Phil Denny.”
Andrew Lathrop - LCC Alumni Association E-Newsletter
“LANSING, MI -- This is always an exciting edition for The New Citizens Press.
This high-profile recognition showcases individuals who have achieved success in their careers or business ventures and have made substantial contributions to their industry.
”
New Citizens Press
“Local newsletter interviews Phil Denny about his passion for music and non-traditional employment.”
Greater Lansing Forward
