present favorites from the Great American Songbook with engaging style and personality.
Their unique spin on classics written by masters like Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Mose Allison, Hoagie Carmichael, Harold Arlan, Burt Bachrach, and the Gershwin brothers lend a refreshing dose of earnest soul to the best work of America’s most enduring songsmiths. They mix tunes made famous by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Joe Williams, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett, with classic soul ballads performed by Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville, Sam & Dave and Marvin Gaye.
Ewbank is a facile and talented pianist with a music degree from the University of South Florida possessed of vast experience in performing and writing. Dean’s ability to get to the essential core of a song and then explore its musical possibilities is what sets him apart from most vocalists. Sometimes oblivious to the world outside himself as he travels deeper into the song at
hand, he is totally absorbed in the moment. After delivering an inspired vocal performance, he emerges with a slight smile, intrigued by some melodic surprise offered by Ewbank.
These two obviously enjoy working together and there is a natural give and take as each responds to other—a flourish on the piano here, an amused laugh and, “Oh, yeah! That’s it!” there. Their mix of jazz standards and Soul Ballads delivered with sparkling, good nature, cloaks the serious musicianship wielded by these two seasoned pros.
A Dean & Ewbank performance makes for an entertaining and satisfying musical experience for any audience ready for real music.
