Having been praised as possessing “pristine playing, meticulous composing” and “a very personal voice deserving of attention,” award-winning guitarist and composer Denin Slage-Koch has performed with Shane Endsley, Stafford Hunter, Brad Goode, Paul McKee, Wycliffe Gordon, Dee Daniels, Drew Zaremba, Zach Rich, Bob Curnow, the Colorado Symphony, and the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. His accolades as a guitarist include being named a 2022 Pathways to Jazz Grant Recipient, recognition as a Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards winner, and critical acclaim for his two releases “Temporary Songs” and “re: manhattan project.”
As a composer and arranger, Slage-Koch has written for many ensembles. His piece “One for Honey” was recognized as an honorable mention in the 2022 Ithaca College Jazz Composition Contest against compositions from 15 countries. He has also arranges for the FocusYear Basel ensemble, the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, UNC Jazz Lab 1 and 2, and the UNC Spectrum Studio Orchestra.
Slage-is also an accomplished in the areas of research and publishing. His book, “Kurt Rosenwinkel Star of Jupiter Transcriptions and Analysis” is available on Mel Bay Publishers, and his article “Racial and Historical Considerations of Benny Goodman’s 1956 Tour of Southeast Asia” is slated for publication in the Spring 2023 issue of Jazz Research Journal. He has also worked as an engraver for Kurt Rosenwinkel and Low Down Publishing. Currently, Slage-Koch’s research is focused on the life and music of guitarist Emily Remler, which he will present at the 2022 Jazz Education Network Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Northern Colorado, Slage-Koch also holds degrees from Whitworth University and the Eastman School of Music. There, he also teaches the UNC Jazz Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and Jazz Guitar Lessons. Slage-Koch's major teachers include many of the greatest musicians and educators in the world, including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Versace, Steve Kovalcheck, Bob Sneider, Dave Rivello, Bill Dobbins, Dan Keberle and Brent Edstrom.

            

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