Denise Mangiardi Unveils Apparitions, a Deeply Personal Ninth Album
Some musicians stick to one lane for a whole career. Denise Mangiardi has never been one of them. A pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger whose path has run from the jazz clubs of New York to orchestral concert halls around the world, she now brings all of it together on Apparitions, her ninth album, out this November and led by the single "Thursday's Child".
She calls it the culmination of everything she has developed over her career. It's a deeply personal record that goes back to the art of storytelling, bringing together her songwriting, piano playing, orchestration and arranging in one place.
A fresh pair of ears, and a full orchestra
Apparitions is co-produced by London-based producer and composer Chris Hyson, known for his audaciously brave production and distinctive creative signature. Together they've taken Mangiardi's arrangements somewhere new, giving her established style a fresh perspective.
Three of the songs were recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Glasgow, an experience Mangiardi describes as an extraordinary honour.
"Never give up on music"
Originally from Long Island, New York, Mangiardi was performing her own songs at just 14, on the stage of the legendary Bitter End in New York City. She went on to Berklee College of Music, majoring in piano and composition, and later completed three master's degrees, including composition at Trinity Laban in Greenwich and film scoring in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Along the way she has played and recorded with Jason Rebello, Jay Anderson, Mark Soskin, Harold Danko, Jerry Bergonzi and Johnny Vidacovich, and was personally mentored by the great jazz pianist and accompanist Ellis Larkins.
Then there's the story every musician would love to tell. Playing with her band in New York at 24, she was approached after the set by a man with some simple advice: "Whatever you do, never give up on music." Only later did she find out it was Gil Evans, the legendary composer and arranger, who had been listening alongside Miles Davis. She has clearly taken his words to heart.
Beyond the jazz club
Mangiardi's orchestral writing has earned her plenty of recognition too. Her piece Songs of the Rainforest, dedicated to Ayrton Senna, was commissioned by Orchestra Toronto for its 2013 Diamond Jubilee performance, and her song "River Of My Own" received an honorary mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Her previous album, On The Brink, was praised by All About Jazz for its mix of classical influences, jazz improvisation and sweeping orchestral arrangements. Chick Corea admired her "beautiful and creative arrangements and renditions", and the acclaimed producer Al Schmitt called her "a remarkable talent".
When she isn't recording or performing, she runs Alices Loft Music, a recording studio split between London and the Isle of Wight.
See it live
To celebrate the album, Mangiardi will play a special CD launch show at PizzaExpress Live in Soho, London, on Sunday 17 January 2027. If you're after an intimate night of piano, voice and storytelling to kick off the new year, it's one for the diary.
The details
- Artist: Denise Mangiardi
- Album: Apparitions (her ninth)
- Lead single: Thursday's Child
- Released: November 2026
- Launch show: PizzaExpress Live, Soho, London, Sunday 17 January 2027
Follow Denise Mangiardi on her website, Instagram, Facebook, SoundCloud, Bandcamp and YouTube.
