Jazz hymn arrangements
Deanna’s 2017 trio recording and companion sheet music features 14 jazz arrangements of traditional hymn tunes.
We Walk in Love- the story behind Deanna’s Justice Choir song
In early 2017, I responded to a call for scores for a new collection of social justice songs being curated by Abbie Betinis, Tesfa Wondemagegnhehu, and Ahmed Anzaldúa. The songs to be selected as part of a new movement called … Continue reading
Mary Lou Williams and Deanna’s trip to Pittsburgh
UPDATE: Click to hear audio from Deanna’s December 2018 performance-lecture on the sacred music of Mary Lou Williams. As a musician, the sensation of being “in the flow” occurs when music is easily moving through me; when group interplay rises … Continue reading
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Tagged #justicechoir, dr. harry clark, east liberty presbyterian church, grace aquilina, hillman center performing arts, lighthouse arts, liturgical press, mary lou williams, mike aquilina, pittsburgh christian studies, pittsburgh girls choir, pittsburgh jazz festival, pittsburgh jazz history, tania grubbs, wzum
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NEW! Comfort Ye: 5 Advent and Christmas pieces
As a former church music director, I know what it feels like to look at your upcoming calendar and realize that you need to quickly fill a spot or two for the Advent or Christmas season. With that in mind, … Continue reading
GRAMMY For Your Consideration: Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns
Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns is in three pre-nomination categories for the 2019 Grammy Awards! •Category 33: Best Jazz Instrumental Album (#287, Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns) •Category 31: Best Improvised Jazz Solo (#391, “Lord, I Want … Continue reading
Deanna’s jazz hymns article in the September issue of Down Beat!
My article, “Making Hearts and Voices Sing: Creating Jazz Hymns,” is now out in the September issue of Down Beat (it’s on pages 82-84). Complete with notated music examples, it offers practical tools on where to start in creating jazz arrangements of … Continue reading
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Tagged congregational song, down beat, hymn arrangements, jazz hymns
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Back from Brazil! Photos from the Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida
I returned from my artist residency in Brazil on June 11. Since then, I’ve been going through photos, reading my “morning pages” (daily journal entries), and delving into books that I bought during my stay, like this great one on the story … Continue reading
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Tagged aparecida, basilica, brazil, brazilian sacred art, claudio pastro, nossa senhora, nossa senhora aparecida, sacred art, santuario nacional
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Deanna no Brasil: The first three weeks!
Greetings from Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil! As I write in my beachfront studio, I am looking out on water, sand, sky, clouds, and five Brazilian boys who are doing flips on the beach! It is a little strange sometimes to realize … Continue reading
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Tagged bahia, brazil, caruru, Caymmi, jam no mam, nossa senhora
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Deanna in Bahia, Brazil!
Happy Easter, Passover, and spring! In exactly one week, I’ll be flying to Brazil to spend eight weeks at the Sacatar Institute in Itaparica, Bahia. I’ve been preparing for this trip for months and it’s finally almost here. And I’ve … Continue reading
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Tagged bahia, brazil, new york foundation for the arts, nossa senhora, sacatar
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Deanna’s February newsletter
The beginning of 2018 has been filled with travel, performances, and a new choral commission! Read/view my February e-news here. For those of you who aren’t on my mailing list and would like to be, send me an email and I’ll … Continue reading
HYMN TUNE HISTORY: KINGS OF ORIENT (We Three Kings)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here’s the fifth entry in my hymn history co-blog with author and activist, Pam McAllister. We’re exploring the history of each of the hymns on Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns. In this post, we look … Continue reading
