Denise Donatelli

I haven’t heard such vocal artistry since Irene Kral.

She is a singer jazz musicians love to love ... She produced a classic example of communicative jazz ballad singing.

Phil Woods has never been accused of indiscriminate praise, particularly of vocalists. Donatelli justifies every claim he makes for her. This woman is a find.

Denise Donatelli possesses that rare combination – sensuous tone, impeccable pitch and great jazz sensibility. She is truly an awesome jazz vocalist!!

Tom Scott – Saxophonist, Composer, 2-time Grammy winner

In The Company of Friends proves that jazz and specifically vocal jazz are alive. Denise Donatelli is fabulous!

Mark Murphy – Jazz vocalist, Composer, 6–time Grammy nominee

Jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli is a breath of fresh air in a market seemingly saturated with female singers. Her debut recording is a stunning effort.

She’s blessed with a pure, powerful voice that suggests the rock-solid assurance and keen intelligence of Ann Hampton Callaway tempered with a soupçon of Lena Horne.

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, known for its stellar roster of talent including Phil Woods, Carl Saunders, Bill Holman, Marvin Stamm, and Don Menza. The CD and Donatelli have garnered outstanding reviews featured in notable publications such as Los Angeles Times, Jazz Improv, Jazz Times, All About Jazz and was selected as one of the top jazz vocal releases in Dr. Herb Wong's Blue Chip Jazz CD Awards of 2005.

Denise Donatelli was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and grew up in a musical family, studying classical piano and listening to jazz and blues as a child. She began playing piano at the age of three and won numerous top awards at national piano competitions. Fortunately, her love of jazz music survived her 15 years of classical piano training.Setting her musical career aside for marriage and family, she began singing again after relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Denise has performed at some of the country’s leading jazz venues and festivals. Her CD In the Company of Friends, has garnered critical acclaim. She has performed with jazz luminaries such as Russell Malone, Christian Jacob, Bill Anshell, Bill Cunliffe, Roy McCurdy, Carl Saunders, Bill Watrous and Clay Jenkins and has been a featured vocalist with the Stan Kenton Alumni Orchestra.

Denise has just recently recorded another CD produced and arranged by Geoffrey Keezer which will be released in 2008.