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J. Vega
Take Five With J. Vega
by AAJ Staff
Meet J Vega:I've been playing music and teaching guitar for more than 35 years. I've been on the faculty at Cal State L.A., East L.A. College, and Los Angeles City College. I also lead a quintet called J. Vega & Friends that plays throughout Southern California and maintain a teaching studio. Instrument(s):Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric bass, percussion.Teachers and/or influences?Jimmy Wyble, Tom Hynes, Richard Pattie, and Matthew Elgart.I ...
Continue ReadingGrammy-Nominated Pianist Donald Vega Drops New Single: 'Let's Pray'
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Donald Vega
Grammy®-nominated pianist and composer Donald Vega will release his new single, “Let’s Pray," on Friday, September 19, 2025. Recorded at Samurai Hotel Recording Studio during the 2023 sessions for Vega’s Grammy®-nominated album As I Travel, the track features an all-star lineup: John Patitucci on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Luisito Quintero on percussion. Reflecting on the composition, Vega shares: “Music is my way of praying. I happened to write Let’s Pray during the pandemic. But the composition is just ...
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Grammy-Nominated Pianist Donald Vega Unveils New Single Featuring Jazz Masters Lewis Nash And John Patitucci
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Donald Vega
Award winning pianist and composer Donald Vega releases his new single, Gather ‘Round on Friday, June 27, 2025. This single was captured during the recording session for Vega’s Grammy nominated album As I Travel at Samurai Hotel Recording Studio in Astoria, NY, and features John Patitucci on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. “When I wrote 'Gather 'Round,' I was thinking about all those joyful, noisy moments with family and friends—the kind where laughter fills the room and love is ...
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New Jazz Stream with Lazaro Vega From Blue Lake Public Radio
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Klay Woodworth
Blue Lake Public Radio announced today that a new all-jazz web stream is available for listeners. The stream is the over-night programming created by long-time jazz host Lazaro Vega but repeating throughout the day. “We have a lot of jazz fans who don’t want to stay up late,” said Klay Woodworth, Director of Broadcasting. “We have developed this 24/7 stream to give them access to our excellent programming.” The stream is available on the Blue Lake Public Radio website and ...
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Grammy-Nominated Pianist Donald Vega Announces Release Of New Single 'Two Words: Bud Powell,' March 28, 2025 Featuring John Patitucci And Lewis Nash
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Donald Vega
Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Donald Vega is set to release his latest single, Two Words: Bud Powell. The track, recorded during the 2023 sessions for his acclaimed album As I Travel, is one of three never-before-released compositions from that session. This straight ahead mid tempo tune was composed by Donald Vega and inspired by Bud Powell—one of the first names in Jazz Vega learned after immigrating to the United States and settling in Los Angeles. The song reflects Vega’s deep ...
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All Is Merry & Bright: New Holiday Album By Donald Vega
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Donald Vega
Grammy nominated pianist and composer Donald Vega is getting into the holiday spirit early this year with his new album All is Merry and Bright;(Imagery, 2024). Recorded, Mixed & Mastered in DigitaleXtreme Definition (352.8kHz/32bit) in both stereo and immersive sound, with Multi GRAMMY-Winner Engineer &Producer Jim Anderson. The 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and Juilliard Professor shared his inspiration behind the album: Echoing the traditions of holiday albums by Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole, and taking inspiration from Vince Guaraldi’s holiday ...
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Donald Vega Earns Grammy Nomination For 'As I Travel' - Best Latin Jazz Album
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Donald Vega
Celebrated pianist and composer Donald Vega receives a GRAMMY nomination in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album for his 2023 recording of As I Travel, an autobiographical suite of compositions inspired by his journey to the United States from his native Nicaragua, and the people and experiences that shaped him along the way. “Always and everywhere melody and harmony is held together by rippling, tumbling rhythms, clearly embedded in body and soul with which Mr Vega leans into his ...
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Saxophonist Kirk Edwards Release 'SHOUT' Features Donald Vega
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Scott Thompson Public Relations
For the past eight years Kirk Edwards has studied jazz improvisation with the celebrated pianist Donald Vega. As an organic outgrowth of this association Kirk often shared original compositions with Donald. Mr. Vega would offer suggestions to enhance these songs and Kirk would implement those elements into the pieces. As the original compositions became more refined Donald suggested that Kirk record them, adding that he would also play on the recording with him. So, that was the genesis of Mr. ...
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Pianist Donald Vega Releases New Single: ¡Baila! Dance Like No One’s Watching
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Donald Vega
The new single, “¡Baila! Dance Like No One’s Watching," was released on Friday, September 29, 2023 to all digital streaming music platforms. This new single is from Vega’s upcoming album As I Travel which will be released on October 27, 2023. The album consists of 9 tunes, all composed and arranged by Vega. The album depicts poignant moments in the personal journey of Donald Vega beginning from his hometown in Masaya, Nicaragua through his worldwide travels performing as an established ...
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Pianist Donald Vega Receives Guggenheim Fellowship In Composition
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Donald Vega
On April 5, 2023, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced the winners of this year’s Guggenheim Fellowship. Donald Vega was named a fellow in the Creative Arts category for composition. “...an exceptionally articulate pianist... Vega's single most distinctive characteristic is his romantic lyricism." —JazzTimes The award provides Vega with support to complete his newest recording project, As I Travel. The project depicts poignant moments in the personal journey of Donald Vega beginning from his hometown in Masaya, Nicaragua through ...
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Donald Vega "With Respect To Monty" out July 10 on Resonance Records
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Scott Thompson Public Relations
A tribute to the great living master, jazz pianist Monty Alexander In celebration of the Jamaican jazz icon, Monty Alexander, pianist Donald Vega puts together a hard-swinging compilation of Monty's great, early compositions. With Respect To Monty features an all-star lineup of Anthony Wilson (guitar), Hassan Shakur (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums). Since his debut on Resonance Records, Spiritual Nature (2012), Vega is entirely his own man, completely in command of his material. As the late, great Mulgrew Miller's replacement ...
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J. Vega
Location: Los Angeles
Instrument: Guitar, electric
