Performance Reviews

A Year Off? You’d Never Know It. The Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra capped its socially-distanced 2020-21 season at Artis-Naples on Wednesday, May 12 with a concert that featured singer Denise Donatelli. With strong support from the venue’s resident jazz sextet…

THE GRAMMYS GRAMMYS DEC 2, 2014 – 3:22 PM The Recording Academy asked this year’s first-time GRAMMY nominees to collect their thoughts and share what it feels like to be nominated for a GRAMMY. Tune in to the 53rd Annual GRAMMY…

Written by Dave Howell Even though jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli is a graduate of Allentown’s Parkland High School, Sunday marked the first time she performed in Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall. Moving to Los Angeles was a good idea, though, since…

Written by Robert Windeler In last month’s five-night engagement—at five different venues—Denise Donatelli made it clear that she is on a determined quest to expand the parameters of the jazz cabaret songbook. In “Big Noise/New York,” her eleven-number set, which I…

Written by Michelle Copperl I was wondering how to fill my day with new music when I was invited to hear Denise Donatelli presents her new CD “Soul Shadows.” The atmosphere was set to mellow as we fine dined at…

Written by Chuck Berg Denise Donatelli is a miracle. She’s a jazz singer whose musical and dramatic gifts tempt one to reach for superlatives. Yes, her unerring sense of swing and subtle way with a phrase bear comparison to iconic…

Written by Kirk Silsbee Jazz singer Denise Donatelli is an intimate performer. Her love songs, by virtue of her almost confessional medium dynamic and warm alto voice, have a rare intimacy. Emotion is something she deals out slowly, like cards…

Written by By George W. Harris When I lived in Italy, I was always fascinated by the fact that all of the pasta dishes that I ate consisted of relatively simple fare: a basic tomato sauce, some basil, a dash…

Written by Don Albert “I raved about Denise Donatelli in Financial Mail (July, 2009). She now has a new CD out on Savant named When Lights are Low, which has garnered two Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and…

Written By Bill Leikam Denise Donatelli and Geoffrey Keezer “Donatelli is quickly becoming one of today’s top jazz vocalists. …one of those voices that will age well like a fine vintage wine. The packed audience at the Douglas Beach House…