The Artist
The creation and distribution of the seven albums featured here has been the realization of a half-forgotten dream. The near completion of the upcoming "Shadowfire" CD has pushed that dream way over the top.

Dennis has been a professional musician for 45 years (retired from performing in the middle '80s). Originally from Minneapolis and having played in a variety of hard rock, pop and jazz groups throughout the Midwest since age 14, he grew tired of the business end of the music industry and focused all of his creative energies on visual arts and his career as an illustrator and graphic designer. 

As anyone who's achieved any level of accomplishment as a musician knows, it doesn't go quietly. In fact, it hasn't gone anywhere but into high gear.

The digital age brought possibilities to the creative process that, like the music itself, couldn't be ignored. With digital audio workstation technology and state-of-the-art synthesizers operating at full tilt Dennis Melton the composer and musician found a rebirth of passion for music. This time around without the business end robbing the process of its joy.

Now located in Las Vegas, fueled by the musical energies that abound in the "Entertainment Capital of the World", and armed with an arsenal of synthesizers and effects, Dennis Melton is now able to take the creative process from concept to polished completion as a real "solo act". Writing all of the parts, playing or sequencing all of the instruments, accepting no excuses, making no compromises and taking no prisoners. Just an accomplished musician and his imagination, brought back to life by modern technology.

If the question were to be asked if an individual can own the creative process, write and produce all of his own music, have it distributed worldwide and get radio airplay on several continents, the answer would be, "Watch him".

Being foremost a drummer, the arrangements on all of this music are percussion-laden instrumental jazz/hard rock fusion (for lack of a more accurate category) that tend to dwell in the darker realms of melody. The musical influences are evident and openly embraced, and Dennis has been honored to have been favorably likened to his heroes, composition and performance powerhouses such as Chick Corea, Bill Bruford, Al Dimeola, Keith Jarrett, Lenny White, Steve Gadd, Alphonse Mouzon, Larry Coryell, and even Frank Zappa.

Having been mentally performing with what he describes as "the nervous jazz band in my head" for years and with utter disregard (disdain?) for convention, melody hooks and timing changes abound. Strap yourself in for a technology-
enhanced musical roller coaster ride and please remember to keep your hands and arms inside the car. 

                       Charlene Davis