Having been praised as possessing “pristine playing, meticulous composing” and “a very personal voice deserving of attention,” award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator Denin Slage-Koch has done a lot.

He’s played and recorded with artists like Ryan Keberle, Shane Endsley, Carmen Bradford, Clay Jenkins, Brad Goode, Wycliffe Gordon, and the Colorado Symphony, written music for artists like Melissa Aldana and Carmen Bradford, recorded three albums of original music and served as sideman for many more, published a book, and is a full-time member of the jazz faculty at the University of Tennessee Knoxville - oh, and he’s not even 30 years old yet! Put simply, he is one of the most exciting and unique rising musicians on the scene today.

As a guitarist, Slage-Koch’s accolades include a multiple Downbeat Student Music Awards, a 2022 Pathways to Jazz grant award, and performances at venues including the national Jazz Education Network conference, Vail Jazz, Boettcher Concert Hall, and Dazzle Denver, among many others. His debut album, “re: manhattan project,” is a ten-movement suite for jazz quintet that reimagines the story of the Manhattan Project, which Slage-Koch’s hometown of Richland, WA was deeply involved in.

Indeed, “re: manhattan project,” received a four-star rating on AllAboutJazz.com and has been praised as “remarkable,” “extraordinary, “moving” and containing “beautiful interplay.”

His third album, It Comes in Waves, featuring trombonist Ryan Keberle and trumpeter Shane Endsley, is due for release on October 13th, 2022.

1. It Comes in Waves
2. The Road Home
3. One for Honey
4. The Cost of Apathy
5. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
6. Continue
7. Signal Fires
8. The Philosopher
9. Quiet Year

The album opens on the smooth It Comes in Waves and the proceeds to bring us the Latin-hued guitar work that resonates throughout The Road Home, the upbeat and rhythmic One for Honey and the sedately ornate The Cost of Apathy.

A quite stunning lounge-esque rendition of the classic Tears For Fears track Everybody Wants to Rule the World is along next and is backed seamlessly by the spirited Continue, the methodical Signal Fires, the album rounding out on the impassioned The Philosopher, coming to a close on the aptly-titled Quiet Year.

The project is funded in part by the Pathways to Jazz grant, a donor-advised fund of the Boulder County Arts Alliance, and the Weld Community Foundation.

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