Original Music

Jazz historian and author of 11 books Scott Yanow calls Dennis “a talented guitarist-composer who is well worth discovering” who “has an original sound on his guitar” and “is a flexible improviser with a versatile sound” who “never seems to run out of inventive ideas.”

Kyle Simpler from All About Jazz says “Winge’s diverse musical background [fills his music] with a wide range of styles, including fusion, blues, funk, and world music influences as well.  [His] guitar work is exceptional and [his compositions are] well crafted, intelligent without being pretentious.  [Winge’ playing] “reminds us that good music can also be good fun.”

George W. Harris, editor at Jazz Weekly, says [Winge’s compositions] “never feel like they are an exercise in gimmickry for its own sake.   All of the cleverness and talent means nothing if the themes and performances don’t deliver, and yes, they do.”

Editor of Contemporary Fusion Reviews Dick Metcalf says “one of the most impressive things about Dennis’ [music] is the variety of styles you’ll hear,” calling it a “high-energy jazz adventure.”  He says “[Winge’s] guitar work encompasses several styles of music, all the way from rock/blues to funk, world and  eclectic jazz…total talent and dexterity.”

Jules Brown, editor-in-chief of jazz guitar online magazine, writes “[Dennis has] such a varied, genre-spanning selection of music, it is hard to pin any all-encompassing labels onto [it]. The common thread is perhaps Winge’s ability to paint a picture; to send the listener to a time and place beyond the here and now.  Candy sweet melodies give way to melancholic blue notes, whilst clean guitars gradually crescendo into overdrive, entirely changing atmospheres in the space of a few bars… [There are] Shades of Tal Farlow, Les Paul, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana…Winge demonstrates his wide appreciation of all genres of guitar playing and music in general. He seems deliberately unconstrained by ‘jazz’, ‘rock’, or the other ‘boxes’ we put ourselves in, and the result is some really special music.  It is intelligently conceived and passionately delivered.”