April Dreams

$12.99

Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic of the Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of NPR's Sound Opinions says of April Dreams: "With an impressive but never showy range and a self-assured, conversational delivery that brings to mind a jazzier Aimee Mann, La Grassa offers uniquely personal and melodically powerful takes on romance ...."  La Grassa surrounds herself with some of Chicago's best on her latest release, including pianist Ben Lewis, drummer Gerald Dowd, guitarist Scott Tipping and bass player/producer Matt Thompson, whose stellar arrangements, from the surreal Deep Down Love to the jazzy pop of the title track to the torchy Matt Kanelos penned String of a Kite, gives La Grassa the proper backdrop to express her poetic & soul-baring lyrics.

Pieces Of Peace

$12.99

Many songs from Denise's 2002 release Pieces of Peace originated in her one person show Is There Anything Going On Upstairs that played in NYC and Chicago. Who is That Cat is an uptempo straight jazz commentary on an arrogant & absent father, while First Dream observes the inner thoughts of a real-life homeless woman. The beautiful Love is Coming After Me was written with Eric Reimschneider during her European tour at a stop in the breathtaking Swiss Alps. The sparse but lilting Amazing Strokes of Loveliness is one of the loveliest songs La Grassa has ever written and recorded, and the melodic Twinkle Eyes belies the despair of optimism gone sour.

The Tracks

$12.99

The Tracks is a jazzy look at Denise's world of romance. The hopeless romantic comes through on The Day I Fell in Love With You, Tell Me, Does a Dream Come True, The Hope In Love and the latin tinged Telling The Moon. The catchy and hopeful Evening Goodnight Kiss, which garnered radio airplay, is a must play during her live performances. The standout ballad, Goodbye My Love, is a heartwrenching send off to a love whose true colors showed only after her heart had been captured. La Grassa adds lyrics to a couple songs from her favorite jazz legends; Bud Powell's Bouncing With Bud, and Charlie Parker's Sweedish Schnapps. The album's finishing touch. Light Will Find You, is a look at Denise's spiritual optimism.

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