Steve DeDoes: Testimonials & Reviews

Below are just some of the comments - from clients, reviewers, and fans - about the music and the creativity of Steve DeDoes Music Productions

Testimonials

"After years of searching - unsuccessfully - for the right creative musical resources, we found Steve. It is unbelievable to us to see how far we've come...with products that are truly "Magic"-al, and with music and ideas that will be "Hitting (the) Mark" for us for years to come."
Charlotte Leonard-Stem Publisher, Move & Learn President, All-Star Movement Educators
hear "Happy To Be On Earth" from Galaxy Magic !

"*TerraViva!* began as an exciting scientific vision of ours that had commercial potential. Steve DeDoes has not only enhanced our vision with his creative touches, and helped our ideas really come alive, but has also been a key contributor in turning *TerraViva!* into a total product. "I'm also a big fan of Steve's music...and we're very proud to have it as part of our TerraViva! product line, and underscoring our visualizations !"
Richard C. Cicone President, ISCIENCES, L.L.C. makers of TerraViva! Products
*more about TerraViva!* (visit their website)**

"Steve's music was clever, inventive, and very funny. Without a word from me, he understood what I was trying to do. Then he made it better."
Jeff Daniels
acclaimed playwright, and star of stage and screen
referring to his collaboration with Steve DeDoes on his stage production "The Vast Difference"

Jeff Daniels' "The Vast Difference" at the Gem Theatre
(hear the 60-second version, produced by SDMP for radio advertisement, featuring Ernie Harwell !)

"As producer for our GoldPan video presentation, Steve created a hard-hitting piece that is remembered by all who see it. Through his efforts, and a unique combination of original music, narrative, and "on-location" video, we were able to excite our audience with the story of our project and its accomplishments.

"Steve was able to keep us focused upon the basics. Faced with verbiage and technical detail, he helped us to refine our message and ensure that it was delivered to our audience with maximum emphasis. I have recommended Steve DeDoes to others, and he would be our first choice for producing future presentations."
Ronald A. Lambert (USAF ret.),
Program Manager for USAF GoldPan Project

see the intro section of the film Project: GoldPan

"Steve DeDoes' exceptional musical contributions to Flint Youth Theatre's diverse productions, whether created for young theatregoers or for an older crowd, have helped to charm our audiences time and time again.

"His integrity as a composer and musician has allowed him to blend seamlessly with our resident and guest artists - resulting in many magical moments on stage. We look forward to a long and varied relationship with him."
William P. Ward
Artistic Director, Flint Youth Theatre

"As far as I'm concerned, Steve is the only TOTAL music director in the
Metro Detroit area."
Yolanda Fleischer
prominent theatrical director, and Associate Professor of Theatre, University of Detroit-Mercy

"When DAG produced 'The Vast Difference' at the Gem Theatre, we were
unable to conceptualize an appropriate radio commercial for the show.
Steve took on the project, created the music, wrote the dialogue, and
supervised the whole production in only a few days. It was the best
radio spot heard in these parts in a long time."
Peter Bellanca
Producer, Detroit Actors' Guild

"Steve DeDoes has been a valuable resource for our organization. He has served as our pianist/music director on a number of occasions, including a circumstance where he was called upon with extremely short notice. His musicianship, professionalism, and preparation have served us well."
Lyn Okkerse
Producer, The Second City-Detroit

Reviews & Testimonials:

Michigan Christmas Air, a benefit CD produced in 1998 for the

"Intelligent writing and solid performances distinguish Michigan Christmas Air, thanks in large part to the handiwork of Steve DeDoes. He plays a tasteful piano accompaniment to singer Kristen Ryan on 'I'll Be Home for Christmas,' which begins with 'Every Year,' a free-tempo miniature written by DeDoes to function here as an introduction. He contributes more extensive compositions as well, including a reflective piece titled 'The Air at Christmas,' and played by the renowned Western Brass Quintet. He even adds lyrics to the words written by legend Don Sebesky on 'Hurray for Christmas.' "In his arrangements as well as his playing, DeDoes embraces a sophisticated aesthetic while leaving room for the players to express themselves. His quartet chart for 'Let It Snow' gives vibraphonist Cary Kocher and pianist Matt Michaels room to burn through the kind of fully-notated passages heard too seldom in the work of small groups. And his clever reharmonizations at the end of 'The Christmas Song' guide Chris Collins' soulful tenor sax fills and the mellow vocals of Harvey Thompson to a satisfying finale. "By far the highlight of the album is the title track, which features most of the musicians on the album. Written by DeDoes in a churchy 6/8 groove, it showcases in particular the singing of Ange Smith, whose mellifluous timbre seems a little too unprotected on two duet tracks with bassist Don Mayberry but fits well into the richer setting provided here by Flint's Northwest Community Gospel Choir, with Odelia Dunlap and Jeffrey Moore. "The only problems involve some aspects of the album's sound. As producer, DeDoes sometimes leaves excessive space where intimacy might have worked better - as in the production of 'Hurray for Christmas.' On this and on several other cuts, some of his thin synth lines pale in comparison to the more tactile textures on the rest of the disc. And although Joe LoDuca's featured guitar solo on 'The Bells of Modern Times' (an unusual DeDoes treatment of 'Carol of the Bells') echoes the apparent theme of the piece, it's too isolated in the mix -- and way too weighed down by blues cliches. "Even so, this is a significant effort by DeDoes, helped by some outstanding performances by musicians of many styles from throughout the state of Michigan. This worthwhile project also benefits the American Lung Association to the tune of 100 percent of proceeds, which go directly to that organization's Michigan chapter." Robert L. Doerschuk prominent music reviewer/writer for Keyboard Magazine, Musician Magazine, and the All-Music Guide

"A very innovative and carefully put-together collection of music. 'Michigan Christmas Air' is not only a superb artistic achievement...it really touches the listener in so many ways." Mike Johnson Music Director & Program Host WDTR (90.0 fm) Radio, Detroit "The track 'Every Year / I'll Be Home For Christmas' is a work of art. And, along with the rest of the fine music on 'Michigan Christmas Air,' Steve DeDoes and the American Lung Association have achieved something very special." Linda Yohn Music Director & Program Host WEMU (89.7 fm) Radio, Ypsilanti "I love 'Michigan Christmas Air' - and even out of season, I play this great CD with a passion!" Foster Braun Program Host WJR (760 am) Radio, Detroit "'Michigan Christmas Air' is one of the most thoughtfully, well-produced Christmas CDs that I've ever heard. It has a wide variety of music, it's done by a group of very talented Michigan musicians and it benefits a worthy cause...the American Lung Association. Everybody wins with this CD, especially during this time of year." Doug Massey Program and Public Affairs Host WVMV ("Smooth Jazz," V-98.7 fm), Detroit

"I enjoyed 'Michigan Christmas Air' ... and found it to be unique and delightful. Very high class."
Ernie Harwell
longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers, baseball Hall-of-Famer, and a treasured sound of Michigan

"A great collection of beautiful and worthwhile music, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it."
Joe LoDuca
Michigan Christmas Air artist, and prominent producer/composer ("Hercules: The Legendary Journeys")

"I'm proud to have my song appear on this fine CD, and pleased to hear it covered so well. Steve DeDoes did a great job, both with my song and with the entire 'Michigan Christmas Air' project."
Don Sebesky
legendary composer and arranger; winner of Tony, Grammy, and Oscar awards;
and producer and composer of the song Hurray For Christmas

Additional Comments and Reviews

"Any listener to Steve DeDoes' production, "Michigan Christmas Air," is bound to be impressed by the imaginative harmonic colorings he brings to a variety of styles, whether the track swings with a small jazz combo, revels in the glory of a gospel choir, or focuses inward in quiet meditation. His bop-based additive chords, tritone substitutions, and exotic whole-tone borrowings add a touch of fresh imagination to familiar holiday numbers and give his talented artists plenty of materials and the space in which to develop them freely. Both his composition and arrangement highlight a rare talent."
Walter Everett
Professor, U-M School of Music
and author of the new Oxford Press book The Beatles as Musicians

visit Unknown Legacy Records on MP3.com to hear & download
some of Steve's previously-released songs & singles from smash albums & productions