Jeff Denson

JEFF DENSON
Bassist - Vocalist - Composer - Educator

Jeff Denson has balanced a full career as both an acclaimed performing musician and a highly respected educator. Currently leading or co-leading four distinct ensembles, Jeff has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe with both his own groups, worked with some of jazz’s finest artists such as Brian Blade, Jane Ira Bloom, Dave Douglas, Charles McPherson, Cuong Vu, Joe Lovano, Ralph Alessi, Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Vadim Neselovskyi, Warren Wolf, Florian Weber, Dan Weiss, Paul Hanson and had an ongoing relationship with the legendary Lee Konitz since 2007.

Jeff’s most recent album, “Outside My Window,” is a feature for Jeff’s “elastic vocals” (Jazz Times Magazine) where he has composed four original pieces and arranged four pieces by inspiring vocalists in an array of genres: Jeff Buckley, Peter Gabriel, Chris Cornell and Abbey Lincoln.

Jeff is a Zon Bass and Aguilar Amplification endorsing artist and a full professor and Head of the Bass Department at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California.

Press Quotes:
“Master of the jazz bass."
— Lee Hilldebrand, San Francisco Chronicle

"The penetrating power of Jeff's voice is outstanding." — Kayo Fushiya, JazzTokyo, Japan


"Jeff astonishes as an emphatic singer of 
immense vocal talent.”
— Alexander Schmitz, Jazz Podium, Germany



"Double bassist Jeff Denson capitalizes on his considerable gifts as an improviser, interpreter and sonic trailblazer..."
— Ken Micaleff , Downbeat Magazine

"Denson is breaking new musical ground, proving that he should be counted as one of the leading bassists of contemporary jazz."
— Teddy Doering, Jazz Podium, Germany

"I have known Jeff Denson for several years now, and had the great pleasure to perform and record with him throughout Europe, the USA and Canada as a member of my quartet. Jeff is an exceptional musician who is a creative force on the double bass and has an original approach and voice on the instrument. He brings a fantastic sense of composition to his improvisations that allow him to transcend the role of the bass and make many unexpected choices. From his hard driving quarter note swing, to cello-like bowed melodies and interactive counterpoint, he is always surprising and inspiring! Jeff is also an outstanding composer who has written music for jazz and classical ensembles. He is always thinking outside the box and bringing his musicality and lyricism to all of his work."
— Lee Konitz

"Jeff is a bassist who digs deeply into the philosophical principles that define what jazz is and can be. In addition to being a very thorough student of the history of his instrument, he is an accomplished composer, teacher, and arranger.”
— Marcus Roberts