Deanna Witkowski

Witkowski's playing is consistently thrilling, and her musical imagination seems boundless.
-Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

If, among contemporary pianists, Brad Mehldau and Bill Charlap represent the gold standard, then Deanna Witkowski deservedly ranks as their sterling sister.
-Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes

Vision and depth with every phrase, chord change and tempo variance make her music universally appealing. Witkowski is the real thing.

-Michael G. Nastos, WEMU, Cadence

One of the best of the new generation of jazz piano players.
-Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal International

Witkowski's voice and McCaslin's soprano saxophone sound as if they were created to play together, a magical blend in harmony.
-Don McClenaghan, All About Jazz

Witkowski is not far from jazz stardom with her keyboard techniques, her imaginative composing and arranging, and her wordless vocalizing. Remember her name.
-Harvey Siders, JazzTimes

**** rating [for Length of Days]...Witkowski's sheer musicality is abundantly evident, from a well-developed sense of line and harmony in composition, to the airily individual takes on standards like "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo," "In the Still of the Night" and "I'm Beginning to See the Light."
-Ray Comiskey, Irish Times

Witkowski's unique combination of skills: her talent, commitment and clarity of vision, leave many other contemporary jazz artists in the dust. She's an original!
-Don Glasgo, Dartmouth College

Wide Open Window will refuse to allow you to file it away and forget about. It's too different and too vital. Bravo, Ms. Witkowski.
-Ken Egbert, Jazz Now

Witkowski copped first place in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and this release [Wide Open Window] shows why.
-Len Dobbin, Montreal Mirror

A vibrant young pianist with a clear musical vision.
-Chuy Varela, JazzTimes

Witkowski focuses on the distinct expressivity of instrumental music and on the balance of emotion and intellect unique to unadulterated jazz.
-Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader

Exceptional taste and imagination, considerable harmonic resourcefulness, and the rare ability to shed striking new light on familiar material.
-Terry Teachout, critic for The New York Times

Witkowski is a wonderfully gifted pianist with a strong sense of beauty and harmony, but I was unprepared for how natural and affecting her voice is. Her technical skills as a singer nearly match her keyboard prowess, but in both cases, what she most powerfully conveys is emotional truth.

-Joseph Taylor, SoundStageAV.com

Following the hallowed path of Mary Lou Williams, pianist and vocalist Deanna Witkowski devotes her fourth album [From This Place] exclusively to the blending of jazz and liturgy, drawing on scripture, the Mass, 19th-century poetry and original verses to build this expansive house of musical worship. Four notes into saxophonist Donny McCaslin's bluesy intro to "Let My Prayer Rise" it becomes evident how invigorating this marriage of secular and spiritual will be.
-Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes

Witkowski is solid as a modern vocalist but exquisite as pianist and composer, in any context.
-Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com

A distinctive pianist and composer who plays with imagination, sensitivity, and fire.
-Fred Hersch

An extraordinary talent whose music speaks articulately with elegance, honesty and beauty.
-Maria Schneider

Deanna with Guinga, California Brazil Camp 2004

Piano profundo, sentido, solitario. Deanna toca como quem escreve uma carta para alguem que nao existe. Seu piano anuncia todos os outonos.

-Guinga

Translation: Profound, full of feeling, solitary piano. Deanna plays as if she were writing a letter to someone who does not exist. Her piano announces all the autumns yet to come.
-Guinga, renowned Brazilian guitarist/composer/vocalist

More reviews

Jacksonville Times-Union (on 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition win)

Full radio/print interviews

Full press articles for each of Deanna's recordings:


deannawitkowski.com





	Full radio/print interviews Listen to Deanna's 2009 interview on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. Listen to Deanna's quartet in a 2003 interview on Weekend Edition Sunday. An April 2011 music profile in City (Rochester, NY) by Ron Netsky. COMUNIDADE NEWS: Uma entrevista em portugues. Photos for press Downloadable hi-res press photos for From This Place Photo credit on all photos: Janis Wilkins CD cover in color ХХ CD cover in black/white ХХ Cover photo (no text) 8x10 color ХХ Cover photo (no text) 8x10 black/white Full press articles for each of Deanna's recordings: From This Place music media reviews: download pdf ХNational Public Radio, JazzTimes, All About Jazz, Jazz Police, Soundstage, and more From This Place religion media reviews: download pdf ХNational Catholic Reporter, Interfaith Voices, UrbanFaith, Busted Halo, and more *Individual weblinks to press for From This Place* are available at Deanna's sacred jazz page. Length of Days full press reviews: download pdf Wide Open Window full press reviews: download pdf Having to Ask full press reviews: download pdf Selected interviews:** Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired- radio interview (2008) Groovin' New York City- podcast (2005) Webster/Rochester Post- print article/interview (2004) LatinJazzNet- print interview (2003) On-air duo performance with Donny McCaslin- in realaudio (2003) WETN interview with Donny McCaslin- in realaudio (2003) Witkowski's playing is consistently thrilling, and her musical imagination seems boundless. -Rick Anderson, All Music Guide If, among contemporary pianists, Brad Mehldau and Bill Charlap represent the gold standard, then Deanna Witkowski deservedly ranks as their sterling sister. -Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes Vision and depth with every phrase, chord change and tempo variance make her music universally appealing. Witkowski is the real thing. -Michael G. Nastos, WEMU, Cadence One of the best of the new generation of jazz piano players. -Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal International Witkowski's voice and McCaslin's soprano saxophone sound as if they were created to play together, a magical blend in harmony. -Don McClenaghan, All About Jazz Witkowski is not far from jazz stardom with her keyboard techniques, her imaginative composing and arranging, and her wordless vocalizing. Remember her name. -Harvey Siders, JazzTimes **** rating [for Length of Days]...Witkowski's sheer musicality is abundantly evident, from a well-developed sense of line and harmony in composition, to the airily individual takes on standards like "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo," "In the Still of the Night" and "I'm Beginning to See the Light." -Ray Comiskey, Irish Times Witkowski's unique combination of skills: her talent, commitment and clarity of vision, leave many other contemporary jazz artists in the dust. She's an original! -Don Glasgo, Dartmouth College Wide Open Window will refuse to allow you to file it away and forget about. It's too different and too vital. Bravo, Ms. Witkowski. -Ken Egbert, Jazz Now Witkowski copped first place in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and this release [Wide Open Window] shows why. -Len Dobbin, Montreal Mirror A vibrant young pianist with a clear musical vision. -Chuy Varela, JazzTimes Witkowski focuses on the distinct expressivity of instrumental music and on the balance of emotion and intellect unique to unadulterated jazz. -Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader Exceptional taste and imagination, considerable harmonic resourcefulness, and the rare ability to shed striking new light on familiar material. -Terry Teachout, critic for The New York Times Witkowski is a wonderfully gifted pianist with a strong sense of beauty and harmony, but I was unprepared for how natural and affecting her voice is. Her technical skills as a singer nearly match her keyboard prowess, but in both cases, what she most powerfully conveys is emotional truth. -Joseph Taylor, SoundStageAV.com Following the hallowed path of Mary Lou Williams, pianist and vocalist Deanna Witkowski devotes her fourth album [From This Place] exclusively to the blending of jazz and liturgy, drawing on scripture, the Mass, 19th-century poetry and original verses to build this expansive house of musical worship. Four notes into saxophonist Donny McCaslin's bluesy intro to "Let My Prayer Rise" it becomes evident how invigorating this marriage of secular and spiritual will be. -Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes Witkowski is solid as a modern vocalist but exquisite as pianist and composer, in any context. -Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com A distinctive pianist and composer who plays with imagination, sensitivity, and fire. -Fred Hersch An extraordinary talent whose music speaks articulately with elegance, honesty and beauty. -Maria Schneider Deanna with Guinga, California Brazil Camp 2004 Piano profundo, sentido, solitario. Deanna toca como quem escreve uma carta para alguem que nao existe. Seu piano anuncia todos os outonos. -Guinga Translation: Profound, full of feeling, solitary piano. Deanna plays as if she were writing a letter to someone who does not exist. Her piano announces all the autumns yet to come. -Guinga, renowned Brazilian guitarist/composer/vocalist More reviews Jacksonville Times-Union (on 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition win)

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