Yesterday Once More - Original Piano Melodies for the Eclectic Romantic

Easy listening solo piano music demonstrating creativity and recalling emotions of life

The Story:
Reeling from the horror of September 11, Dennis, like all Americans, sought a way to respond to the unthinkable. Words obviously failed; so did anger. Acting on the belief that the creative spirit transcends both, he slowly began to record on manuscript paper the conflicting emotions he was experiencing. Two weeks later, "Reflections" was completed. He wanted the honest opinion of a talented pianist, and chance had presented him with one six months earlier, when Anthony booked time at the studio to record his original compositions. Two days later "Reflections" was in Anthony's hands; soon Dennis and Anthony were on the phone discussing it and so much more. It didn't take long to realize that because they shared musical sensibilities, Anthony played what Dennis heard in his head. Under Anthony's fingers the notes became music and dynamics were transformed into emotion. Unaware of the scope or direction the project would ultimately take, Anthony took a leap of faith and signed on to record the entire CD. Little did he know the energy, the hours, the frustration that awaited him in the studio. One thing Dennis knew, however, and had planned all along, was how much Anthony would grow as a performing artist as he took on challenges, overcame obstacles, and tamed some unconventional harmonies and rhythms. With dogged determination Anthony finished the recording with one day to spare before he returned to Westminster Choir College for the fall semester of 2003. In early 2004, Yesterday Once More (CD and sheet music) were released and both composer and pianist (now the best of friends) had taken a major career step.

Composing from his heart and not from a formula sets Dennis' style apart from that of many of his contemporaries and presents a refreshingly unique sound. His fusion of classical music and easy listening jazz keeps the heart and ear anticipating each melodic phrase and harmonic texture.

As Anthony tells it: "It's all about the music" was the phrase that quickly became not only the motto of this project, but also the essence of our creative partnership.

I met Dennis shortly before I began studying piano with Ms. Ingrid Clarfield at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. It all started very unassumingly with just a simple request from him asking me to take a look at a piece he wrote and share some insight into it. Well, one thing led to another, as usually is the case with Dennis and me, and the creative process sparked, went into full force, and eventually finished with a terrific product, great friendship, and creative partner.

As Dennis would send me scores of the newly composed pieces, I would give an initial listen to each piece and study the score. I would start what became a rigorous recording schedule, taking each piece one by one to The Great Kate Studio (Dennis' studio) and discussing it with him. We would talk about things I liked and disliked, suggestions and compliments. The reason this process worked is that EGO never got in the way. It was always all about the music. As this project continued, I started to fully understand what a tremendous experience I actually was taking part in. To experience the combination of two different creative processes, one from the composer and the other from the performer, and be able to come full circle with both was definitely a life changing experience.

You’ve been listening to Track #3, “Empty Chair.”