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DONALD VEGA

DONALD VEGA, PIANO

Donald Vega was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home with the Colburn School of Performing Arts. He began his studies there in classical piano with Teresa de Jong Pombo and Dr. Louis Lepley. Vega began learning the language of jazz from mentor Billy Higgins at The World Stage and continued at CSPA with Jeffrey Lavner, then later with bassist John Clayton at the University of Southern California. He went on to graduate from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School where he studied with piano great, Kenny Barron.

His debut album, Tomorrows, was released in 2008 to rave reviews. In his sophomore album, Spiritual Nature (Resonance Records, 2012), he was joined by the regal rhythm tandem of bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash. Vega teamed up again with Lewis Nash on his most recent album, With Respect to Monty, (Resonance Records, 2015). Vega currently performs internationally as the pianist for world-renowned bassist Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio,

DONALD'S DUOS, COMBOS AND ASSOCIATIONS

David Wong, Bass
Neal Smith, Drums
Brandon Lee, Trumpet
Neal Smith, Drums
Donald Vega and “The Best Of Three Worlds” (Latin jazz):
Billy Drummond, Drums
Carl Allen, Drums
Luca Santaniello, Drums
Clovis Nicolas, Bass

PERFORMANCE VENUES

  • Blue Note
  • Birdland
  • Detroit Jazz Festival
  • Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center
  • Jazz Standard
  • Village Vanguard

MUSICIANS PLAYED WITH

  • Ron Carter
  • Benny Golson
  • Billy Higgins
  • Christian McBride
  • Lewis Nash
  • Antony Wilson
  • Diana Krall
  • Alfred McKibbon
  • Wynton Marsalis
  • Herlin Riley
  • Benny Wallace
  • Hassan Shakur
  • Buster Williams
  • Terell Stafford
  • Larry Coryell
  • Roy Hargrove
  • Jesse Davis
  • Jazzmia Horn
  • Russell Malone
  • Wallace Roney
  • Houston Person
  • Billy Hart
  • Ernie Andrews
  • Gerald Wilson
  • Clark Terry
  • Jimmy Cobb
  • Dianne Reeves
  • Alex Acuna
  • Justo Almario
  • Poncho Sanchez
  • Francisco Aguabella
  • Armando Peraza
  • Curtis Fuller
  • Giovani Hidalgo
  • Freddie Hubbard
  • Eddie Harris
  • Steve Turre
  • Bob Cranshaw
  • Abraham Laboriel
  • Curtis Lundy
  • Peter Washington
  • Ben Wolfe
  • Steve Wilson
  • Antonio Hart
  • Kenny Garrett
  • Phil Woods
  • Billy Harper
  • Jimmy Heath
  • Paquito De’rivera
  • Dave Liebman
  • John Patitucci
  • John Clayton