An award-winning composer and producer, she was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in March, 2015. She is an engineer and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, alto sax, clarinet, accordion) who sings four octaves, and has produced over 50 releases.
Amy Denio (rhymes with 'Ohio') is an award-winning Seattle-based singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, improviser, record producer and recording engineer. She founded Spoot Music, her record label and publishing company in 1986, and has composed, recorded, collaborated upon and produced over 300 compositions, released dozens of solo and collaborative recordings on Spoot and other record labels from America and Europe.
Since 1988 she has collaborated with international musicians at festivals, churches, schools, prisons and mercury mines throughout East & West Europe and North America, as well as in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina.
Denio has been commissioned by Berkeley Symphony, Italian National Radio, New York Festival of Song, Relache Ensemble, and dozens of modern dance choreographers, theater companies, film makers and radio.
These works have been seen and heard at Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Seattle Opera House, Detroit Institute of Art, Venice Biennale, Roman Theater Trieste, and on top of 3 Metro Busses in Seattle.
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Credits
AllMusic verified credits for Amy Denio- Nick Didkovsky
- Ken Field
- Dark Blue World
- Dark Blue World
- El Topo
- El Topo
- El Topo
- El Topo
- Amy Denio
- Chris Cutler
- KMFDM
- KMFDM
- Amy Denio
- The Tiptons
- The Tiptons
- The Tiptons
- Amy Denio
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Lesli Dalaba
- Chris Cutler
- Danny Barnes
- Paul Rucker
- Amy Denio
- Laura Veirs
- Laura Veirs
- Laura Veirs
- Two Loons for Tea
- Two Loons for Tea
- Visions
- Visions
- Visions
- Amy Denio
- Bill Wolford
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Kultur Shock
- Wellwater Conspiracy
- Francisco López
- Francisco López
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Danubians
- The Science Group
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Ken Field
- Pointless Orchestra
- Pointless Orchestra
- Charles Gocher
- Skyward
- Skyward
- KMFDM
- KMFDM
- Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
- Tone Dogs
- Only a Mother
- Only a Mother
- Only a Mother
- Wayne Horvitz
- Wayne Horvitz & Pigpen
- The Minus 5
- The Minus 5
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- (EC) Nudes
- Pale Nudes
- Caged/Uncaged
- George Cartwright
- George Cartwright
- Frank Pahl
- Curlew
- Curlew
- Curlew
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Gitta Schäfer
- Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
- Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
- Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Tone Dogs
- Curlew
- Curlew
- Lucio Fabbri
- Demetrio Stratos
- Lucio Fabbri
- Demetrio Stratos
- Lucio Fabbri
- Demetrio Stratos
- Amy Denio
- Noah Creshevsky
- Noah Creshevsky
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Amy Denio
- Virago
- Virago
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- Virago
- Virago
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Languages
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
12 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients
Endorse Amy Denio- check_circleVerified
Amy was creative, flexible and also fun to work with. She turned things around fast. I would love to work with her on another project. She brought her own flavor and ideas, and that made a really nice difference in the project.
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I have worked with Amy on three projects over the past couple of years. She is an amazingly intuitive artist and adds so much to my tracks. She is very easy to work with and the final product always exceeds my expectations. I can't recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Amy!!!
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Amy is simply amazing. She creates an incredible and unique sound. Easy to work with, responds quickly. Is there a 6th star??? If you want a professional saxophone track, you should contact her.
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Amy created and recorded a accordion track for a song of mine. I absolutely felt in love with everything about her performance: the timbre, the feeling, the way the accordion makes its way into my music. She is super easy to work with, very attentive and kind. I couldn't recommend her more!
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If you need a beautiful accordion... a fantastic musician... a wonderful person... and a chatting smile to your song... believe me... she is all you are looking for... and more... :)
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Amy is incredibly talented and easy to work with. Her sax playing is exquisite. Highly recommended
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Amy was super to work with! She understood the feel we were looking for and delivered all in first draft! Would love to work with her again in the future!
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Nice work. Looking forward to what she can do with some other songs.
I have worked creatively with Amy Denio for over 20 years. She is easily one of the most talented and creative people I've ever worked with. She is an amazing singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer and also one of the nicest people you could hope to meet! Super Big Double Thumbs Up! You should DEFINITELY hire Amy for your next project.
Give yourself a present today. Check Amy out!
One of the finest musicians and composers I've known. If you're looking for a musical genius, she's it.
Amy is an outstanding musician!
Interview with Amy Denio
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A solo voice recording, as well as a suite of songs inspired by current world events, which I am composing on my arsenal of instruments. I am also working on a commission to create a soundscore for a modern dance work called 'Great Again', which will premiere soon. In June I will play bass on a recording of some excellent rock songs. I play sax and clarinet and tour internationally with Kultur Shock and with the Tiptons Sax Quartet. In addition, I transcribe songs for singer songwriters using Sibelius software.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a variety of excellent microphones, and use a Lexicon I-Onix interface to record with Reaper music software. I also work with Sibelius, for score notation.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Candy Dulfer, Carla Kihlstedt, Carla Bley, Ersilia Prosperi, Fred Frith, Sinead O'Connor, Adrian Sherwood, Steve Fisk
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I compose and produce audio recordings of saxophone, clarinet, accordion, bass, rhythm guitar and back up vocals according to clients' specifications. I am an audio engineer and love to mix tracks as well.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Americana, Country, Jazz, Pop, Metal, Rap, Rock, Latin, Balkan.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I was commissioned to produce two recordings by Italian/Sardinian group OU; I oversaw the sessions, wrote one song, played on some of the material, mixed and mastered the project with excellent engineers, and released both recordings on my record label, Spoot Music. https://oumusic.org/
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Orville Johnson, guitar, dobro & voice. Wonderful musician!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I have been creating audio digitally for many years, and seek to make the sound as warm and 'human' as possible.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: You will be completely satisfied, or get your money back.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love to create in collaboration with others, and I am proud of my accomplishments as studio musician.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Will I accompany a song to help the chord changes make more sense? Gladly!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I am internationally renowned as a jazz artist, but I play many genres!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Which instrument do you need recorded? If you want a solo, where in the song? Do you want me to create a horn section? If you want background vocals, please specify words to be sung (or not).
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: You will love what I create! I am a seasoned professional with perfect pitch and have recorded in collaboration with artists from many genres ~ Country, Americana, Jazz, Ambient, Rap, Rock, Metal, Balkan, Latin, and Classical.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Alto sax, clarinet, guitar, bass and a glockenspiel!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I published my first solo cassette in 1986, first LP in 1987, and my first CD with Tone Dogs was nominated to be nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990. I have been a professional recording and touring musician since 1990.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I am a musical chameleon since I love playing many styles; 'soul' would be the best description. I grew up listening to Motown.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Drummer Matt Cameron, because he has an excellent sense of groove, rhythm and musicality.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Less is more! Tracks that breathe easily and are not cluttered are pleasing to more listeners.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My ear is incredibly strong; I am proud of the tone I get from all of my instruments in my studio.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring soul to the song! My excellent ear and sense of rhythm helps me create the perfect solo or accompaniment for all styles of music. I have been a professional multi-instrumentalist for over 25 years, and have collaborated with folks all over the world.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I listen to the song, create overdubs, and send the client a rough mix including my creations. I am willing to do 2 revisions. Once the client approves of my work, I send the track(s) as stereo .wav files, according to their specifications.
I was the Composer, Arranger, Performer, Producer in this production
- Singer - FemaleAverage price - $150 per song
- SaxophoneAverage price - $150 per song
- EditingAverage price - $100 per track
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $150 per song
- AccordionAverage price - $150 per song
- ProducerAverage price - $400 per song
- ClarinetAverage price - $150 per song
7 days to complete project; cost includes 2 revisions. Additional revisions $25/each.
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