dean51

On this page you can find out whats new.
Plus read reviews about my work. At the moment
i am working on my nxt cd Outside In. Its
different to my previose work in that its more
of a personal journey, an exploration of where my
playing will take me. If you click on the link bellow
you will be able to read an article and interview
with the examiner.

Smooth Jazz Radio

We are quite taken by Dean’s music here at SmoothLounge.com… a cool, sophisticated soundscape of ambient music laced with electro/acoustic soul and a fusion of jazz and rock with Afro Latin rhythms. This dreamy new release from the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter is deep and rich with texture and vocals. Featured on drums, bass, guitar and vocals, ECLECTIC showcases the artist’s ability to blend a wide range of musical genres into an eclectic, yet congruent collection of tunes. Ten tracks in all, Dean’s ECLECTIC is a lesson in borders, he says, “boundaries, as in life, are our own imaginations… if you enjoy music that seeks to step outside the box, yet still an enjoyable listen… then this is your sound.” Couldn’t agree more. Favorite tracks include “Roundabout,” “Times Places Faces,” “Love Is A Heartbeat” and “Albino Magic.” Check out ECLECTIC today and download or buy the entire project for chillin’. ~SANDY SHORE

REVIEW BY SONICJIVE RADIO

Family Portrait by Dean If you are a fan of Zero 7, Donald Dean (aka Dean) is an artist worth listening to. Dean professes a kind of swash exuberance and soulful ambiance on Family Portrait. More importantly though, as sole producer and composer, Dean shines with his compositions herewith, and the result is a beautiful and convincing achievement. "Family Portrait" is shaped with Dean's eccentrically free overtones and robust sax work, and is an openhearted record full of truly inspirational moments. Dean’s sax work on “Magic” is captivating, starting and ending with an incendiary sax solo, capturing the essence of the track and the entire LP itself. "Summer Days" is an epic work, tight and well arranged, straight "in-the-pocket" if you will, featuring tasty Fender Rhodes keyboards, alluring sax work, organic beats and a sizzling female vocal track (~SANDY SHORE from smoothjazz.com). Other outstanding tracks include two very soulful pieces, "Chance Encounter" and "Everyday". " Time" features a wonderfully eclectic arrangement and is a very strong track. Over all, Dean boldly snaps choruses with amazing themes and contractive passages pertaining to life and humanity. Even more, the composer's free-form penchant and avant garde technique appears to be rooted upon a complicated but nevertheless discernible layout. This release is a captivating enterprise. Gorgeous...michael cantor

REVIEW BY CREATIVE THINKERS INTERNATIONAL

So call me a fan already! I admit the CTI Admin folks alerted me that Don Dean had set up house here and asked me to check his music out but they didn't have to worry about convincing me where it's concerned. I know quality flow when I hear it and I actually had experienced the joy of listening to Dean's music before. The first time, it made me think of certain songs by that fantastic group War, like what they might have sounded like if they had started making music in the year 2000. It made me think too about some early Santana and then some things I couldn't really identify but that I totally loved. Dean gives us something like a full-bodied orchestral pop treat with smooth waves of warm Latino rhythms, sparkling African beats, and seductive jazzy fusion all mixed to create something totally original and irresistible. His sound is what I figure making good music is supposed to be all about...fresh and hot and kickin' it to the moon.

FAMILY PORTRAITE. If you’re a fan of Zero 7 or Air, you’ll totally get into Dean. “Summer Days” is a grand feat with top-notch engineering, tasty Fender Rhodes keyboards, alluring sax work, organic beats and a sizzling female vocal track. Other songs that stand out on this project include the soul stirring “Everyday;” the poignant “Storm A Brewin’” floats in a vocal layer over an industrial vibe (“it’s who we are, not where we’ve been”); the soulful “The Price We Pay” is an ambient piece that just may bring the hairs on the back of your neck straight up; and Dean’s sax work on “Magic” has a Van Morrison feeling to it reminiscent of Van’s own playing on songs like “Spanish Steps.” For us here in the U.S. Dean captures the Euro Chill sound with his soulful approach to electronica and nu jazz, creating a very organic sound that fits beautifully into our Smooth Lounge! ~SANDY SHORE