Denise's Website

[Top row and side photographs by Mark Robert Halper]

About Denise

The debut CD of Denise Donatelli, entitled In the Company of Friends, produced and arranged by Tom Garvin, was released on June 7, 2005 on the Jazzed Media label. Jazzed Media is known for its stellar roster of talent including Phil Woods, Carl Saunders, Bill Holman, Marvin Stamm, and Don Menza.

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Denise Donatelli, the youngest of three girls, began her musical journey early in life. At the age of three, she taught herself to play Silent Night on the family piano and classical piano lessons ensued. She was an active member of the Allentown Music Club and garnered numerous “Superior” awards for her piano performances in the National Music Federation's yearly piano competitions. Citing one of her childhood memories, “I remember my mother would occasionally drive other students who didn’t have a ride to the recitals. On several occasions we would pick up a teenager named Keith Jarrett. He was very quiet and shy but I guess since I was younger, there wasn’t much to talk about. It was apparent, even then, that he was a huge talent.”

During her formative years, Denise listened to her sister’s extensive jazz collection that included jazz vocalists Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn and jazz instrumentalists including Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamaal, Stan Kenton, and Oscar Peterson. She always loved to sing and fortunately, her vocal skills and love of jazz survived the 14 years of classical piano training.

Denise put her musical aspirations aside for marriage and a family but a relocation to Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1980’s led her back to her musical destiny. Her good friend singer/pianist Tony Winston took her to a jazz jam and convinced her to sit in. It wasn’t long before she became entrenched in Atlanta's jazz scene, performing with the city’s leading musicians including pianists Ted Howe and Bill Anschell, composer and musical director for Grammy nominee, jazz vocalist Nneena Freelon. Denise has performed in leading events across the Southeast including the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Denise also performed and recorded with Four Freshman veteran, Rod Henley and his jazz vocal group.

Residing in Los Angeles since 2000, Denise continues to win audiences performing at local jazz rooms throughout the city. Denise performed at the 2004 Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival and was voted into the final round of the Sony Jazz 2004 Search for a New Jazz Star on-line competition. Denise was the featured performer with Les Brown’s “Band of Renown,” and has graced the stage with notable jazz musicians including Chuck Berghoffer, Tony Dumas, Ron Eshette, Tom Garvin, Tom Ranier, Steve Houghton, Trey Henry, Ralph Humphries, Jim Hughart, Luther Hughes, Clay Jenkins, Paul Kreibich, Russell Malone, Andy Martin, Ralph Penland, The Dave Pell Octet, Tom Peterson, Bob Sheppard, and Tom Warrington.

Denise has also appeared in a number of national and international television commercials including CNN, Hyundai, Lexus, Mercedes, K-Bee Toys, Office Depot, and as spokesperson for TV Guide. Her voice has also been heard on many radio and television promos including promos for Card Sharks, Turner Classic Movies and Frasier.

Click here to hear some of Denise's outstanding music samples..

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