Denise Gordon

Denise Gordon is a self-made woman. A child of two worlds, she delicately balances her AmericanMotwon rootswith her new-found passion for African music in her fifteen-track debut album titled Wangu We (You're mine in Swahili).

Four years in the making. Denise describes the compilation as a fun mixture of R&B, Afro-fusion and jazz-funky lite. The made-in Africa product was was recorded in Kenya and Burundi with African musicians and producers.

So what's so special about this album? Well, it's definately a breath of fresh air. The opening track, ''Sunday" is an insanely optimistic song, with an upbeat tempo that talks about finally finding love and surrendering to it like ''everyday should be a Sunday''. Denise's collaboration with Nyash(formerly of the Kleptomaniacs) on "Keep Moving" is full of inspiration and flaunts her ability to fuse hip-hop into her jazzy sound.

Denise partners with former Sudanese child soldier Lam on "Suddenly Sudan" to create a heart-felt ode to the situation in Darfur. The time is puncutated by uluations and phrases by singer Hellen Mtawali that are distinctly African. Hellen's voice singles out the plight of war-torn nations like Sudan and Somalia.

With over ten years of performing all around the continent,including in Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan and Mali. Denise, a native New Yorker, has definately earned her stripes in the realm of Afro-soul. Her Wangu We is mature, catchy, easy on the ear. It can unburden wery spirits at the end of a tough week, even as it explores diverse issues that hit home in both Africa and America. - Up Magazine (Nairobi)

Editor's Choice: Taking Nairobi by storm Published: 1/19/2007By: KAMAU
MUTUNGA

Denise Gordon is no stranger to Nairobi's club music scene. KAMAU MUTUNGA talked to her. Good musicians are slowly discovered while bad wannabes are slowly found out. And gradually, a bunch of unsung talents, the kind whose
music you will never hear on any radio station, is steadily emerging from Nairobi's club music sessions.

One of them is Denise Gordon a Nairobi-based American humanitarian aid worker, who is
electrifying a crowd as we enter Tamasha pub in Hurlingham, where a jazz gig is on the cards this Sunday evening. Necks are craned, and beer mugs stilled halfway to the mouth as patrons listen to her powerful, silky rendition of 'Summertime' and Michael Jackson's 'The Man in the Mirror' that draws an encore from her fans. We meet her again during the launch of Tusker Project Fame at the Carnivore in October. A mini singing contest is underway and Gordon steps on stage and belts out a throaty version of
Des'ree's 'You Gotta Be', to emerge among the winners, alongside Ted
Muthusi, who sings the Eagles' rock number, Hotel California.

"I enjoy the audience's action. But for me music is not just a hobby but a passion. I realised that I could sing when I was posted to Rwanda in 1995 after the genocide. I would have gone crazy had I not found something else to do be yond my work as a humanitarian assistant. So I joined the Piano Bar Band in Kigali which was playing America's top 40 songs of the '70s, initially for practice. This was followed by a two-year singing session that included curtain-raising for South African reggae artiste Lucky Dube's tour of Rwanda," says the diva,
who has shared the stage with Gladys Knight and Lauren Hill. But after singing popular cover versions, Gordon has finally managed to record her debut album, Wangu We, (Kiswahili for you are mine); a mixture of R&B, funky jazz and Afro-fusion, the album has subtle musical arrangements over thoughtful lyrics.

The three-year labour of love was released in October 2006 at a concert held in New York City's Thomasina's NightClub. "I had put away my music project when my dad died in 2004. He was the only
family member who took to music, but he didn't make much use of it. I
launched it there so that my 83 year-old mum could be part of it," says Gordon, who was accompanied by local producer Rkay (Robert Kamanzi), whom she met in 2002. The themes in her album range from love and life to compassion for humanity. In My Ideal Man, the first song she wrote, Denise croons: "...My ideal man should know how to sing, not with his voice, but also with his soul, as we drink champagne and caviar on a Saturday..."

Then there is Not the Way I Planned It, a touching, soulful ballad that was inspired by the end of her marriage. 'Suddenly Sudan' is her favourite song, which she composed after witnessing suffering in the six months she worked in Darfur, Southern Sudan. The number, which last year featured in BBC's Network Africa programme and will be included in the Rwanda for Darfur compilation, has Lam, a former Sudanese child soldier, rapping over her lyrics in Nuer while Kenyan singer Hellen Mtawali provides background chants over a staccato of drums that emphasises the brutality of war. 'Black Man' bewails the tribulations of the black man all over the world. 'We Need the
Children'was recorded to raise funds for the education of children (who provide playful playground background noises) from the marginalised Batwa community in Burundi. The number, a blend of R&B interspersed with funky
African flavour, had the technical input of Kenya's Tedd Josiah, Tanzanian Charles Mhuto of CafrikaVibe Productions and Burundian Aron Tunga from
Kool Stuff Studios. It was recorded in Nairobi and Bujumbura and remixed in Rwanda, making it a true East African "collabo".
'We Need the Children' received an Honorary Mention in the 2003 John Lennon and the 2005 Great American songwriting contests. But my favourite is the eponymous, 'Wangu We', a deep and delicately arranged ballad over Gordon's silky voice. "It took me three years of shunting between work and the recording studio," she recalls. "I spent $15,000 (over Sh100,000) to complete the album. And you don't spend that kind of money on something you don't love doing," says the two-time winner of the Amateur Night at Apollo Theater in Harlem, USA. Gordon has been lined up to perform at the 2007 Rwandan Film Festival in Kigali and the opening of Ziggy Marley's tour of Tanzania, besides blazing her own East African promotional tour of 'Wangu We', whose repertoire makes for an easy Sunday listening over a bottle of something. Or over a long drive to wash away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

- Daily Nation - Kenya

Whoa, this is wonderful, Denise & Co Well performed, conceived, produced, inventive and personal lyric blend of language in narratives is very effective. ...I'd get this to 'world radio' programs...these are radio ready...and any/all major /Indie labels that list with Taxi(or any way you can find those producers, record companies who already deal with artists in a similar genre: from Stevie Wonder, to Anita Baker, Mary J Blige, Toni Braxton, pop/R&B audiences. - Taxi --Indie A&R company

We are please to inform you that the song "Soul Sister Melody" has advanced to the next round of judging for the 2006 International SongWriting Competition....With over 14,000 songs entered into ISC 2006, making it this far along in the competition is a great accomplishment and a testament to your songwriting talent. - International Songwriting Competition

Various titles from Denise Gordon's debut CD Wangu We will be featured in various compilations:

'Suddenly Sudan' and 'Never Again' will be a part of the Rwanda for Darfur Compilation 2007 highlighting Rwanda's identification with the 'genocide' in Darfur.

'Black Man' will be featured in 'Let Me Be Heard!' Vol. 1 produced by the Music Independent Summit Connection with the goal of showcasing original music from the best emerging artists worldwide.

'We Need the Children' will be featured on the 'Diaspora for Africa ' volume 2 produced by Afrikool Entertainment for the support of the Fight Against Global Malnutrition & Poverty. - Various

March 3, 2007

Denise Gordon has been named one of the Top Five Vocalists in our latest SingerUniverse "Best Vocalist of the Month" Competition. She will be honored on the winner's page as one of the best vocalists we heard during the month of February 2007! - Singer Universe.com

Denise Gordon recieved an Honorable Mention for the 2003 John Lennon Song Writing Contest, for her debut single "We Need the Children", a song she wrote for the African child.

The contest organizers felt that though the song did not place in the winning categories, it deserved a mention amongst the thousands of submissions received.

Denise was honored with a certificate of this mention. - John Lennon Song Writing Contest

March 27, 2007

Dear Denise,

I just wanted to let you know that your few minutes and moment on stage were electrifying!... the audience loved you !

The event was live on TV, not only the 500 plus in the audience but over 500,000 who watched you on the eve of 23rd March at the opening of the 3rd Annual Rwanda Film Festival.

Thanks for gracing us with your presence . We keep in touch

Regards,

Eric Kabera
Founder of Rwanda Film Festival
Producer - '100 Days' - Eric Kabera - Founder of the Rwanda Film Festival

Denise Gordon is an American singer who focuses on soul as well as rhythm and blues. She has been on some of the most famous stages on the planet include New York's The Apollo Theatre. The singer, who is currently based in Nairobi, was the guest singer at this Thursday Nite Live at the Choices bar in Nairobi on Thursday evening.

The singer performed covers of some of the most well known performers from the 20th century like Babyface, Boyz II Men, Bob Marley and Mariah Carey. Her performance was well received by the audience in the Baricho Road based venue.

In attendance were State Counsel Cynthia Olotch and her sisters as well as ‎ Kenya Association of Music Producers General Manager June Gachuhi and Triple Bottom Live Associates Angie Gachuhi. - Star Newspaper, Kenya

It is Saturday night at Village Market’s Tamambo Tapos Bar in Nairobi. With a microphone in her hand, musician Denise Gordon belts out Wangu We, a gutsy, earnest rasp about love.


With three back-up singers by her side, Gordon’s voice is easy on the ear. It is not many musicians who can sound better live than on their album.


“I am very proud of Denise. While she was growing up in New York she never said she wanted to become a singer. She only took to singing seriously when she came to Africa,” says Gordon’s 87-year-old mother, Naomi Gordon.


This is her sixth performance at Village Market since she launched her debut album, Wangu We, in 2006 at a concert in New York City’s Thomasina’s pub. Robert Kamanzi produced the album.


Many of her fans usually ask why she never did it sooner. “I would have been happy being a back-up singer for Mariah Carey. That was the most I aspired to,” she says. “What I am doing now I never thought back then.”


Unlike other musicians, Gordon started her music journey late in life. The 50-year-old American realised her music dream in Africa. She attends voice classes at Nairobi’s Brookhouse School and is a regular visitor at producer Kamanzi’s studios.


“She is a performer and a go-getter. Though she did not have prior experience, it is quite unusual for someone to discover their passion in music at her age,” says her voice instructor, Gacigi Kung’u.


Her songs have endeared her to her close circle of fans in Nairobi. She fuses English with Kiswahili. Maisha and African Flava are some of the songs she wrote with Africa in mind.


A friend, Regina-Re, a renowned TV personality says: “She is energetic and passionate on stage. She brings her songs to life.”


She first came to Kenya in 1979, as a volunteer with the American Peace Corps and stayed for six weeks.


A week ago, Gordon sang at the Divas Valentine Dinner attended by MP Martha Karua.


“I sing because I have a talent, I sing because I love to sing and because I love writing songs. I love the reaction from the people who hear me sing,” says Gordon.


The balance between her passion in music and her consultancy in humanitarian work is what she strives to achieve everyday. She has previously worked in Senegal, Mali, Tanzania and Rwanda.


Her interest in music was nurtured in Queens, New York. Her father, a communication officer with an oil company, was an ardent singer who squeezed time to sing after work in bars for fun.


She sang in public for the first time at her school’s graduation when she was 13.


While in Kigali in April 1995, where she had gone for a rotary event, she discovered her talent.


“It was a piano bar band and they were doing American top 40. They kept on playing and I would say, ‘I know that song’, I found out where they rehearsed and went down to the rehearsal,” says Gordon. She regularly practised with the band and eventually became a vocalist.


“They were very welcoming. I wasn’t being paid. After a while they found I was serious about it,” says Gordon.


The artiste, who once did a curtain raiser for South African reggae musician Lucky Dube, has also shared the stage with Gladys Knight and Lauryn Hill at the world famous Apollo Theatre in New York.

Gordon says and wants to set up an arts centre. She is working on music by divas such as Miriam Makeba with Regina-Re and June Gachui. - Nation Newspaper, Kenya