Meet Denny Jiosa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denny Jiosa.

Hi Denny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began playing guitar at age 7 and haven’t put it down since. Early in my career, I moved to Los Angeles and attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California. I remained there for 3 ½ years until moving to Nashville,  at which point I ended up with a record deal in New York for five albums. During that time, I had a Top-Five hit, several Top-Ten hit records, and received an award from SESAC for the most played Jazz Song of 1997. In addition to recording these records, I also worked with Grammy winner Yolanda Adams, for which I received three Grammy nominations as engineer and guitar player. I’ve been very fortunate to work and study with many artists and great guitar players, including BB King, Pat Martino, and Frank Gambale.

I have since released six more albums, one of them recently hitting number one on the World Jazz Charts (AMBIENT MONKEYS INTERDIMENSIONAL BEING) and number one on the Chill Chart. This was a collaboration with my friend and Musician, Michael Moryc. We will be releasing our second project on August 18, 2023.

I am also working on another jazz album release and looking to venture into the Blues realm.

REVIEWS:

“If Eric Clapton played jazz, he’d be Denny Jiosa!” Jazz-Iz Magazine

“…more Jeff Beck than smooth jazz” Vintage Guitar Magazine

“Denny Jiosa is among my favorites in the company of Fourplay, Spyro Gyra, and Joe Sample” LA Times Jazz Critic/Author Dirk Sutro. “…The Jeff Beck side of his playing-more cutting edge!” www.RobertSilverstein/mwe3.com.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would have loved my career to be as smooth and easy as my music; however, that has not always been the case. The struggle to release original music and navigate through the politics involved in the industry is extremely challenging and can be frustrating.

Many times, I feel music has become centered more on politics and less on the talent of the artist. People that are not in this industry do not realize that musicians are hired and fired daily. You play a show, and basically, you’re fired and have to go find the next show. If you don’t go out and drag the hunt home, you don’t eat. It’s a lot of work. A lot of stress. Some days the frustration is nearly unbearable.

All that said, I’ve been very fortunate and blessed along the way and met and played with a lot of wonderful people. I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve been able to do what I love and what God put me on earth to do!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m known as a contemporary jazz guitar player, as well as a producer, and specialize in both of those areas. I would describe myself as a contemporary jazz artist, guitarist, composer, and vocalist. As a studio musician, I can cover many styles of music on the guitar. I’m also a recording engineer & producer and have truly enjoyed those and all my skills releasing 11 major projects.

What sets me apart is the originality of my approach to the instrument and my original compositions, which are very melodic. I’ve been told my guitar work sounds like a voice singing. I couldn’t have been happier to receive that compliment. That’s exactly what I go for. It’s not about how many notes you play, but it’s about communicating a feeling, or an emotion, to the listener, from my heart to yours, and I’ve been blessed to be able to do that. What I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to do this as a career, raise three children without my wife working, and I’m still out there doing it. I’m not done yet!

What’s next?
My plans are to continue writing, recording, and performing live. Probably the biggest change will be venturing into the blues genre next year.

I’m also a wine connoisseur and enjoy teaching & educating others on Italian wines. I will keep pursuing that as well and combining jazz shows with it. I have done this in the past and everyone seems to love it!

Contact Info:

• Website: jiosa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennyjiosa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennyjiosa/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denny-jiosa-41a806b/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DennyJiosa
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dennyjiosa
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dennyjiosa
• Other: https://jiosa.com/wine-notes 

Image Credits
Alyssa Jiosa Cox ; Rick Malkin ; Sheri Garza-Pope