Born and raised in Phoenix, Denise Martin attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she had the privilege of studying vocal music and arranging/composition with Bob Stoloff and Hal Crook, interspersed with traveling around the world performing on cruise ships, to broaden her experience and perfect her stage presence.
After graduation Denise returned to the Phoenix area in the mid '90s, and became the lead vocalist for the group 'Sophia'. Sophia became a touring group and on the Arizona Arts Commision's artists' roster, traveling around Arizona and the southwest, performing and conducting clinics and residencies on women in Jazz.
In 1998 Denise released her first CD, 'Denise Martin with Eric Bart', while free lance performing, and giving private vocal lessons. Denise's second CD followed in 2001, 'Re-entry', which was very well received, getting airplay on KLON in Los Angeles, KSDS in San Diego, and KJZZ in Phoenix. 2002 found Denise employed at a local performing arts high school, as the head of the performing arts department, and teaching young artists to hone their own talents through the study of music in all it's variety, although Jazz remains her favorite form of personal expression. She continues to privately tutor select students and performs as often as her schedule allows, and in 2005 was voted 'Best Female Jazz Vocalist in Arizona' by KJZZ listeners. (local NPR affiliate). Currently, Denise is busy recording a third CD with Mike Epping, a talented saxophone player and educator, while continuing her work with the school, and her private students. Denise has performed, recorded and toured extensively, both domestically and internationally, playing with some of the heaviest hitters in the business, some of the highlights of her career include performing and/or recording with: Paul Bryan (bass player - Amy Mann, Paula Cole) Dan Rieser (drummer - Norah Jones) Alex Alessandroni (piano player - Babyface, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton) Jill Seifers (vocalist – Shawn Colvin) Chris Cheek (sax player - Paul Motian) Consuelo Candelaria (piano player - Billy Pierce, Billy Hart, Jeff Watts, composer/arranger, recording artist for Accurate Records, mother of 2!!) Don Hauge (saxophone – solo artist) Tom Beckham (vibraphone – Marshall Crenshaw, solo artist) Jay Bellerose (drummer - Robert plant, Allison Kraus, Beck, Paula Cole) Kevin Barry (guitar player - Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paula Cole, Emmy Lou Harris) Big Jim Henry (trumpet player – Joey DeFrancesco) Joey DeFrancesco (organ player – Miles Davis, solo artist) Julie Sussman (arranger, performer, sax player – Juan Colon, Milly Quezada) Bob Albanese (piano player – Buddy Rich, solo artist, instructor Manhatten School of Music) Marcello Pelliteri (drummer - Gipsy Kings) Cristina Vilallonga (vocalist/composer – Gotan Project) Bruce Flowers (piano player - Betty Carter) Werner (Vana) Gierig – (piano player/composer/arranger – Regina Carter, composer for Sex & the City episodes, solo artist) Ira kaspi – (singer - well known Finnish artist) Steve Mackey - (bass player - Dolly Parton) Tony Malaby – (sax player – solo artist) Johnny DeFrancesco – (guitar – solo artist)