Jazz Articles about Denise Donatelli

Denise Donatelli: When Lights are Low

by Edward Blanco
December 21, 2010

Commanding a soothing, lush voice capable of tenderizing the lyrics of any song, Denise Donatelli does a wonderful job on When Light are Low, a collaboration with friend and musical director Geoffrey Keezer. The album has received two Grammy nominations, one of which is for “Best Vocal Jazz Album," leaving no doubt that this is indeed an exceptional recording. The other Grammy nod is for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying A Vocalist," for Keezer's arrangement of Billie Holiday's classic, “Don't Explain."

Denise Donatelli: When Lights are Low

by Nicholas F. Mondello
October 20, 2010

A recent news photo depicted pop singer, Lady Gaga, accepting an MTV Video Music Award bedecked in a gown of raw meat. While reactions to that stunt went to understandable extremes--condone as art or revolt as déclassé--it's easy to wonder what women jazz vocalists might have thought of it. Based upon the marvelously entertaining and stylistically brilliant CD, When Lights are Low, it might not be a surprise to envision Denise Donatelli heading up on stage come Grammy time. And, ...

Denise Donatelli and Geoffrey Keezer at the Douglas Beach House, Half Moon Bay, CA

by Bill Leikam
August 21, 2009

Denise Donatelli and Geoffrey KeezerDouglas Beach HouseHalf Moon Bay, CaliforniaSunday, August 9, 2009Arriving at the Douglas Beach House after performing at the San Jose Jazz Festival, up and coming Los Angeles-based jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli brought with her a stellar jazz quartet featuring pianist Geoffrey Keezer on piano, bassist Hamilton Price, Duncan Moore on drums, and saxophonist/flutist Bob Sheppard on an array of reeds. Her performance was based on her latest newest CD album release ...

Denise Donatelli: What Lies Within

by AAJ Italy Staff
April 1, 2009

Un disco brillante da parte di una cantante che conosce il proprio mestiere. Questo in sintesi il giudizio che si può dare di What Lies Within. Brava, abile a cantare standards e canzoni non proprio note, ma forse poco incisiva come leader: gli arrangiamenti sono del pianista Geoff Keezer e gli ospiti, come il sassofonista Bob Sheppard o il percussionista Alex Acuna svolgono un lavoro sì importante, ma che non contribusice tanto al suono collettivo della band. Scorre tutto in ...

Denise Donatelli: What Lies Within

by Marcia Hillman
February 19, 2009

Every now and then--in the sea of good but interchangeable, up-and-coming female vocalists--arrives a distinctive voice. Denise Donatelli is such a voice. Backed by Geoffrey Keezer (piano/arranger), Carl Saunders (trumpet), Bob Sheppard (reeds), Peter Sprague (guitar), Hamilton Price (bass), Marvin “Smitty" Smith (drums), Carlos Del Rosario (organ), Giovanna Clayton (cello) and Alex Acuna (percussion), the LA-based singer sails through an interesting and unhackneyed selection of material. As the liner notes indicate, Donatelli chooses to “be another instrument." ...

Denise Donatelli: What Lies Within

by Edward Blanco
October 1, 2008

It is refreshing indeed to hear a lovely voice fronting a superb cast of musicians, and then combining to forge one exceptional recording, which is what Los Angeles-based singer Denise Donatelli has done in What Lies Within. As she voices the lyrics of Harold Arlen's “My Shining Hour"--the opening tune in a selection of eleven uncommon standards--the words “this will be my shining hour," should refer to the magical performance on an album that may well be her finest hour ...

Denise Donatelli: In the Company of Friends

by Jim Santella
August 10, 2005

Denise Donatelli brings the rich texture of her voice and the subtle rhythmic stride of her phrasing to the forum through a program of familiar jazz standards on In the Company of Friends. Working with an all-star ensemble of Los Angeles veterans, she's comfortable with a balance of heartfelt interpretation and sparkling musical persuasion.

“You Don't Know What Love Is" proves sultry and exotic as the singer cools her delivery with whispered sighs and then builds the aura ...