Donald Crawford

Biography
Teacher

Jazz pianist and composer Donald L Crawford, Jr. was born December 28, 1978 in Richmond, Virginia. He has graduated from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College with an Associate’s degree in music and is currently pursuing his jazz studies degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. Donald was a member of VCU’s Jazz Orchestra I (under the direction of Antonio Garcia) and has taken private lessons from pianists Eric Lyttle, Bob Hallahan, Russell Wilson, and Dr. Sonia Vlahcevic. The list of musicians with whom Donald has worked with and/or has studied with includes drummer T. Howard Curtis, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, trumpeter Taylor Barnett, bassist Michael Hawkins, vocalist Terri Murphy, and others.

As of spring 2007 Donald has recorded and independently released two EPs which consists of all original compositions. Trialogue I (2006) featured the talents of bassist Matthew Hall and Billy Williams, Jr., and Trialogue II (2007) has Michael Hawkins on bass and Kelli Strawbridge on drums. Both CDs are available on Donald’s independent label DLCentric Music.

Donald is the recipient of several scholarships, including the 2006 Joseph J. Kennedy Scholarship award from the Richmond Jazz Society. Donald also leads his own trio and is a composer-in-residence with Richmond’s Jazz Composer’s Alliance. His musical influences are jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Keith Jarrett, Wynton Kelly, Herbie Nichols, Andrew Hill, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Charles Mingus.

Some of the various venues in the Metro Richmond area where Donald has performed includes: Bistro Bethem, Blues Café, Bleu Bistro, Bogart’s Backroom, The Canal Club, Cary St. Café, Charley’s, Chord’s Restaurant, Emilio’s Tapas Bar, Fridays At Sunset at Kanawha Plaza, Fusion Jazz & Blues Club, The Hard Shell, Hyperlink Café, Jamestown Settlement Museum, The Jefferson Hotel, Pocahontas State Park, The Omni Richmond Hotel, The Richmond Coliseum, The Richmond Marriott, The Richmond Science Museum, Sam Miller’s Restaurant, Sycamore Rouge, The Tobacco Company, Twin’s Jazz Club, and The Upper East Side Lounge.