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Donato Soviero

Guitarist, Composer, and teacher Donato Soviero has been performing in and around the Washington DC area for thirty years. Noted for his superb artistry as a guitarist and composer, Donato's versatility affords him equal comfort in many venues. With roots firmly planted in the tradition of mainstream jazz, his scope of musical interest is nonetheless wide. These influences can often be heard shaping his own unique voice as composer and arranger. A resident of the Washington D.C. area since 1982, Donato has appeared with top local and national artists, as well as leading many of his own groups in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. In the early 90’s, his group Decisiones highlighted his composing and arranging skills in a Latin-Jazz vein. At the Carter Barron Amphitheater he opened for Poncho Sanchez and Tito Puente with a program of all original music composed for the occasion. Locally he has played at the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, The One Step Down, Corcoran’s Hammer Auditorium, Andie Musik, Bethesda Jazz and Blues, Bohemian Caverns, and the Smithsonian. He has also appeared with national artists at Wolftrap, the D.C. Convention Center, and RFK Stadium and performed at numerous Jazz festivals, including the 2015 D.C. Jazz Festival. He’s played for Presidents and at the State Department for the Thelonious Monk Institute. One of his most recent projects has been a modern jazz group called the MARS 4-Tet (mars4-tet.com) which has recorded its debut release, The Blind Watchmaker on the Summit Record label to great reviews.Mr. Soviero has been the recipient of several awards, including a 1994 TAP Award from the D.C. Commission of the Arts and Humanities and a 1995 GIA Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Recordings include a self-titled CD, several features as sideman and CD tribute to Charlie Byrd entitled “Classical Jazz.” Tom Cole, host of WPFW’S ‘G STRINGS’ had to say about his playing: “His beautiful phrasing and impressive improvising took me aback…He’s one of those real surprises.”


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Album Review

Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet: Fools For Yule

Read "Fools For Yule" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Before you simply scroll past to say, “Oh boy, another Christmas recording," stop. This one is different, hip and fun. If you remember the classic done by Manhattan Transfer years ago, which you may have well memorized by now, you are ready for another one. “I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," the set's opener, will not (thankfully) conjure up Les Brown. “Fool For Yule" is entertaining, wry, and, in its way, a bit, arch. With yet ...

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Guitar

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Fools For Yule

HouseKat Records
2021

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