Denise Donatelli, a 2-time GRAMMY nominated and critically acclaimed Savant recording artist, has become one of today’s premiere jazz vocalists. Denise’s GRAMMY nominations include her 2012 release SOUL SHADOWS for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and her 2010 release WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW — which received two GRAMMY nominations, one for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and another for “Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist” for pianist and collaborator Geoffrey Keezer for his arrangement of “Don’t Explain.” Denise’s four recordings, SOUL SHADOWS (Savant Records, September 2012), WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (Savant Records 2010) WHAT LIES WITHIN (Savant Records 2008) IN THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS (Jazzed Media 2005) have consistently topped the National Jazz Week radio charts. Her GRAMMY® Nominated recording WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW peaked at #2 and remained on the chart for 23 weeks. It resurfaced 28 weeks later where it remained for another 7 weeks. GRAMMY nominated SOUL SHADOWS is the third collaboration with 2 time GRAMMY nominated pianist, composer, arranger Geoffrey Keezer....
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Denise Donatelli, a 2-time GRAMMY nominated and critically acclaimed Savant recording artist, has become one of today’s premiere jazz vocalists. Denise’s GRAMMY nominations include her 2012 release SOUL SHADOWS for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and her 2010 release WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW — which received two GRAMMY nominations, one for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and another for “Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist” for pianist and collaborator Geoffrey Keezer for his arrangement of “Don’t Explain.” Denise’s four recordings, SOUL SHADOWS (Savant Records, September 2012), WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (Savant Records 2010) WHAT LIES WITHIN (Savant Records 2008) IN THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS (Jazzed Media 2005) have consistently topped the National Jazz Week radio charts. Her GRAMMY® Nominated recording WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW peaked at #2 and remained on the chart for 23 weeks. It resurfaced 28 weeks later where it remained for another 7 weeks. GRAMMY nominated SOUL SHADOWS is the third collaboration with 2 time GRAMMY nominated pianist, composer, arranger Geoffrey Keezer.
In addition to Denise’s 2010 and 2012 GRAMMY Nominations, The Los Angeles Jazz Society has honored Denise with their 2012 Jazz Vocalist of the Year award and has made the 2013 Downbeat Critic’s Poll “Rising Star Female Vocalist” list. Denise tours extensively, performing at jazz festivals, jazz clubs, performing art centers, university jazz bands and conducts master clinics.
A native of Eau Claire, WI, Geoffrey Keezer was playing in jazz clubs as a teenager, holding down the piano chair for Art Blakey at age 18, and touring in the company of Joshua Redman, Benny Golson and Ray Brown in his 20s. Whether recording with jazzy chanteuses Diana Krall or Dianne Reeves, touring with trumpet king Chris Botti, or collaborating with pop icon Sting, sax legend Wayne Shorter, guitar wizard Jim Hall, star bassist Christian McBride or vibes master Joe Locke, Geoffrey “has more than enough virtuosity and sheer musical wit and intelligence to weave all of his apparently disparate strands of influence into an original and compelling whole” (Time Magazine). Working with vocalist Denise Donatelli on projects garnering three GRAMMY nominations, as well as receiving a GRAMMY® nomination in the “Best Latin Album” category for his 2009 AUREA recording, Geoffrey also has released a series of albums drawing influences from Hawaiian, Okinawan and Afro-Peruvian folk traditions. Perhaps the most exciting turn in Geoffrey’s career is his recent focus on solo piano and his first solo release in thirteen years, HEART OF THE PIANO (2013, Motema Records). On a mission to redefine solo jazz piano as a personal and interactive showcase of melody, energy and groove, Keezer brings to HEART OF THE PIANO his most direct and focused artistry to date.
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