Dennis Contreras

Dennis Contreras duo at a glance...

It all started when two young musicians met an old and very experienced jazz pianist, Mr.Daden Capucione (jazz teacher who taught the great filipino pianist Bobby Enriquez). He shared with them what music was to him, and what it meant for them and the future generation of young musicians. He showed them the beauty of mainstream and classical jazz. The young musicians where completely blown out of their minds with the beauty and complexity of jazz music. The challenges it offered, both mentally and technically, the freedom of explosive musical creativity, and the wisdom needed to be able to understand the true meaning of those wonderful compositions and the discipline to forge the true spirit jazz music.

In time, these two young musicians, Dennis Contreras (violinist) and Merlan Mariano (guitarist) started a group with the intention of sharing their music and creating an avenue of free expression and creativity in music, and also encourage, inspire and connect people to a great heritage and musical tradition only a few knew existed. After only a year the group has played in different events, such as weddings, company parties, debuts, and various social gatherings in different hotels and bars in the metropolis. The group also love to perform other forms of music such as classical, popular, OPM(original pilipino music), contemporary, new age, latin, and rock fusion. Experimenting and creating new ways to interpret diffirent genre of music,creating a very original sound that is truly thier own.

The group has done recordings with artists' Jose Mari Chan (I beg You Stay) and Rachel Alejandro (Paalam Na). The song Paalam Na was included in the album entitled Acoustic Light by Alpha Records which was released last July 2004. The group also made two successful shows entitled "What A Wonderful World" last December 17, 2003 at the Point of Italy Restaurant and "Inspire" at Prestige Tower last March 16, 2004.

Dennis a talented violinist, a brilliant and gifted composer pianist loved music at a young age. He took violin,cello and piano lessons from his grandpa. He took composition at the Yamaha Integrated Program for Professional Musicians, Jazz theory and improvisation under Mr. Daden Capucione while continuing his study on the violin at cuerdas cuatros and finally with M.Rodgie A., Edwin Silang Cruz were Dennis learned to play professionaly joining Velvet Mood String quartet/Chamber Orchestra. His musical influences are Pablo de Sarasate, Itzhak Perlman, Claude Debbusy, John Coltrane, Claude Williams, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephane Grappelli, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans. He is also a session player, playing for different artist and arrangers/composers. Dennis also teaches talented young violinist at Mandaluyong Youth Orchestra and currently a faculty member of the music department of San Carlos Seminary.

Merland studied guitar at UST Conservatory of music. Also took up guitar at yamaha integrated program and then bacame a guitar instructor at Yamaha School of Music with Dennis. He took jazz theory, improvisation under Mr. Daden Capucione. His musical influences are Joe Pass, Goerge Benson, Bill Evans, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Miles Davis, Tuck Andres. Kenny Burrel, Jim Hall, Scot Lafaro. Merland is currently a faculty member of the music department of San Carlos Seminary.