D.J. Sweeney

Performing live professionally in 2006, D.J. Sweeney currently has 2 CDs recorded with some of the finest jazz musicians in Kansas City. Her first (March 2006) was recorded at Soundtrek Studios in Kansas City and the most recent one (Nov.2008) was recorded at Markosa Studios in Roeland Park, KS.
D.J. Sweeney has performed at almost every venue that offers jazz in Kansas City and has also performed at the Coleman Hawkin's Jazz Festival in Topeka, KS and The Coleman Hawkin's Jazz Festival in St. Joseph, MO along with the Plaza Art Fair, Plaza Live Music series and Zona Rosa Summer Music Series.
Her repertoire includes everything from ballads to swing, bossa and blues. She enjoys singing the songs of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson, Johnny Mercer, Billie Holiday, Gershwin, Jobim, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Leonard Cohen and many more. With only 4 years of performing live she has over 80 tunes in her repertoire.
Her latest recording is available at cdbaby.com. For future bookings contact D.J. at djjazziedeb@hotmail.com
Reviewer: Vince Staskel
The debut self-titled album by this Kansas City jazz gem is a great find indeed. D.J. Sweeney recalls the days of caberet jazz and steamy nightclubs. The standards could not be better presented. This CD is a treat for anyone who misses a time when a vocalist told a story of longing and of love. D.J. Sweeney is a great find and a class act, indeed.
D.J. Sweeney
D.J. Sweeney
(D.J.)
D.J. Sweeney is a fine singer who has a straightforward delivery, swings lightly, and mostly sticks to the words and melody of the songs that she interprets. She was in Los Angeles for a time but has since relocated to Kansas City. For her self-titled debut, she is joined by a top-notch quartet that includes guitarist Danny Embrey and pianist Paul Smith.
Sweeney adds joy and life to a variety of older standards including “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key,” “You Turned The Tables On Me” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” Other than “My Love Is,” all of the songs are at least several decades old but she makes them sound relevant, fairly modern and fun.
The music is never complex or complicated, so a long analysis is unnecessary. Simply put, D.J. Sweeney sings some of her favorite songs in a likable and accessible fashion while joined by some of Kansas City’s top musicians. The only fault to this set (which is available from cdbaby.com) is its brief length (around 36 minutes) but it is easy to enjoy and a strong debut effort.
Scott Yanow