Louise Denson is a pianist, composer/arranger and educator, holding a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the Queensland Conservatorium (Brisbane) where she was a Senior Lecturer in Jazz Studies, 1999-2020. She completed her Masters in Jazz at New England Conservatory (Boston), studying with such luminaries as Paul Bley, George Russell, Bevan Manson and Joe Maneri. 

Louise has issued six CDs, three through labels and three independently. 

Colours of Your Love (2018, with Ingrid James and Wild Silk Strings Project) has received acclaim from around the world. 

Dark Sky (2019, DensonBaartz Quartet) is currently receiving airplay across Australia. 

Louise is an Associate Artist with the Australian Music Centre. 

She was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Women in Music Awards (Educator category).

Louise's unique approach to music emphasises melody and rich, contemporary harmony. Her extended tenures in Afro-Cuban and Dominican dance orchestras in Montreal resulted in a frequent ‘Latin’ flavour in her compositions. 

The CD Clean Start won a Queensland Sunnie Award (jazz category).

Her composition ‘Time to Be’ (Denson/James) received a Queensland Music Award (Best Jazz Composition). 

Numerous compositions have been included in the finals or highly commended in the Queensland Music Awards, including ‘All I Know’ (Denson/Hoyt), recorded by Bell Award-winning vocalist, Elly Hoyt. 

‘Hear Me’ was commissioned by Elly Hoyt for her 2018 project The Composers’ Voice, and debuted at the Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival (2017). 

‘Lonely Wing’ (Denson/James) was published in the first Australian Jazz Real Book. Many of her jazz compositions are now available at the AJR website. 

A selection of fully scored works are published by Wirripang.

Louise Denson’s compositions have been performed in Australia and overseas. ‘Lost my Heart’ (Denson/James), the title track on a CD recorded by the L.A.-based jazz combo San Gabriel Seven, featured renowned Downbeat poll-winning trombonist, Bill Watrous and internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Ingrid James. 

‘Flora Australiae’, a three-movement suite for large jazz ensemble and wind multi-instrumentalist Diana Tolmie, was premiered at the Brisbane International Jazz Festival (2018) and featured at national and international saxophone conferences. 

‘Wild December Wind’ (2012) and ‘Out of My Way' (2015) were recorded by QueenslandConservatorium Saxophone Orchestra. 

‘Two Boleros’, recorded by Muses Trio (2016), receives frequent ABC airplay. 

‘Pondside’ was recorded by the Barega SaxophoneQuartet for a digital album (2015). 

Other commissions include ‘Fisherman Islands’ - Southern Cross Soloists (2013), and three art song cycles premiered by New-Zealand soprano Sarah Court (2015/16). 

Louise Denson’s big band charts are regularly performed by the Brisbane Jazz Orchestra. 

Her own groups have performed at: 

• Wangaratta JazzFestival 
• Montreal International Jazz Festival 
• Melbourne International Women’sJazz Festival 
• Manly Jazz Festival 
• Brisbane International Jazz Festival 
• ValleyJazz Festival 
• Brisbane Festival (Spiegeltent) 
• Broadbeach Jazz Festival 

Louise has collaborated with musicians of national and international renown including:

• Saxophonists - Sandy Evans, Julien Wilson, John Mackey, Martin Kay, James Sandon, Frank Lozano, Martha Baartz and Adrian Cunningham. 
• Trumpeters - Miro Bukowsky, Aron Doyle, Bob Schultz and Paul Armstrong. 
• Pianist - Steve Newcomb. 
• Bassists - Michel Donato, Mike Milligan, Helen Russell, Peter Walters and Andrew Shaw. 
• Drummers - Todd Harrison, Paul Hudson, Cameron Reid, Tony Floyd, Ronny Ferella, Fabian Hevia, Gary Fieldman and Paul Leger.