Denise Donatelli is an American jazz vocalist who was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Donatelli grew up in a musical family, studying classical piano. She began playing piano at the age of three and won numerous awards in the National Federation of Music Club's yearly piano competitions.
Fortunately, her love of jazz and passion for singing survived her 15 years of classical piano training.Setting her musical goals aside for marriage and family, Donatelli began singing again after relocating to Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1992, a friend took her to a jazz jam and convinced her to sit in with Russell Malone. Shortly thereafter, she began working the local clubs.Currently residing in Los Angeles, Donatelli continues to win audiences, performing at some of the city's leading jazz venues and jazz festivals throughout the country.
She has performed with a long list of jazz luminaries including Freddy Cole, Bill Cunliffe, Christian Jacob, Geoffrey Keezer, Roy McCurdy, Joe LaBarbera, Pete Christlieb, Dave Carpenter, and Chuck Berghofer.
In 2005, Donatelli recorded her debut CD entitled In the Company of Friends, produced and arranged by pianist Tom Garvin. The CD received critical acclaim - winning a 2005 Blue Chip Jazz CD Award - and is currently enjoying a successful re-release in Japan on the SSJ label as of August 2008.
Donatelli's latest recording, What Lies Within, was released in August 2008 on the Savant Records label. It was produced and arranged by pianist, composer/arranger, Geoffrey Keezer. Donatelli is joined by internationally acclaimed musicians including Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Hamilton Price, Peter Sprague, Bob Sheppard, Alex Acuna, Carl Saunders, and Giovanna Clayton.
What Lies Within has created a stir not just in the microcosm of female vocalists but in the macrocosm of jazz in toto.Tom Scott writes, "Denise Donatelli possesses that rare combination - sensuous tone, impeccable pitch and great jazz sensibility.
She is truly an awesome jazz vocalist!" Don Heckman of The Los Angeles Times writes, "She produced a classic example of communicative jazz ballad singing … she is a singer jazz musicians love to love.
"Official website: http://www.denisedonatelli.com/Denise Donatelli on MySpace: www.myspace.com/denisedonatelli
