The debut CD of Denise Donatelli, entitled In the Company of Friends, produced and arranged by Tom Garvin, was released on June 7, 2005 on the Jazzed Media label, known for its stellar roster of talent including Phil Woods, Carl Saunders, Bill Holman, Marvin Stamm, and Don Menza. The CD and Donatelli have garnered outstanding reviews featured in notable publications such as Jazz Improv and Jazz Times Magazines.

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Denise Donatelli, the youngest of three girls, began her musical journey early in life. At the age of three, she taught herself to play Silent Night on the family piano and classical piano lessons ensued. She was an active member of the Allentown Music Club and garnered numerous “Superior” awards for her piano performances in the National Music Federation's yearly piano competitions. Citing one of her childhood memories, “I remember my mother would drive other students to the recitals. On several occasions we would pick up a shy, quiet and extremely talented teenager named Keith Jarrett. I was very young at the time and had no idea this incredibly talented classical pianist was already embarking on an extraordinary jazz career.”

During her formative years, Denise listened to her sister's extensive jazz collection that included jazz vocalists Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn and jazz instrumentalists including Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamaal, Stan Kenton, and Oscar Peterson. She always loved to sing and fortunately, her vocal skills and love of jazz survived the 14 years of classical piano training.

Denise put her musical aspirations aside for marriage and a family but a relocation to Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1980's brought her back to her musical roots. A friend took her to a jazz jam and convinced her to sit in. It wasn't long before she became entrenched in Atlanta's jazz scene, performing with the city's leading musicians including pianists Ted Howe and Bill Anschell, composer and musical director for Grammy nominee, jazz vocalist Nneena Freelon. Denise has performed in leading events across the Southeast including the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Denise also performed and recorded with Four Freshman veteran, Rod Henley and his jazz vocal group.

Residing in Los Angeles since 2000, Denise continues to win audiences performing at local jazz rooms throughout the city. Denise performed at the 2004 Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival and was voted into the final round of the Sony Jazz 2004 Search for a New Jazz Star on-line competition. Denise performed with the Stan Kenton Alumni Orchestra, Les Brown's “Band of Renown,” and has graced the stage with jazz notables including Chuck Berghoffer, Tony Dumas, Ron Eshette, Tom Garvin, Tom Ranier, Steve Houghton, Trey Henry, Ralph Humphries, Jim Hughart, Luther Hughes, Clay Jenkins, Paul Kreibich, Joe LaBarbera, Russell Malone, Andy Martin, Ralph Penland, The Dave Pell Octet, Tom Peterson, Carl Saunders, Bob Sheppard, Tom Warrington and Bil Watrous.

Denise has also appeared in a number of national and international television commercials including CNN, Hyundai, Lexus, Mercedes, K-Bee Toys, Office Depot, and as spokesperson for TV Guide. Her voice has also been heard on many radio and television promos including promos for Card Sharks, Turner Classic Movies and Frasier.