Jazz/Pop Vocalist DONNA DEUSSEN was "singing almost before she could talk," according to her mother. She took piano lessons throughout her childhood, and was a "total chorus/drama geek" in high school, winning spots in the prestigious All-State and All-New England choirs both her junior and senior years of high school, as well as leads in the school musicals. She then attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, and received her Bachelors in 1989, graduating magna cum laude.
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Donna then moved to Los Angeles, and began performing and recording all styles of contemporary music, including pop, R&B, country, rock, folk, and, of course, jazz. She has performed at a wide variety of jazz venues in the Southern California area, including: Spazio Restaurant; Millenium Biltmore Hotel; Lunaria’s; Cal Tech Summer Jazz Series; Monteleone’s; Sportsman’s Lodge; L.A. Cabaret; The Money Tree; Portofino on Pine; Fox & Hound; Whispers at The Grove; and many more.
She lived in Phoenix for a few years (2006-2009), and performed at numerous venues there, including: the Phoenician Hotel, the Ritz Carlton Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel, the Royal Palms Hotel, Windemere Hotel, Eddie V's, Village Tavern, and Johnny’s Uptown Supper Club, to name a few. She is now back in the L.A. area and performs on a regular basis at the Left Coast Wine Bar in Glendale, CA, among other venues around the Southern California area.
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Donna has worked as a session singer at several recording studios in the L.A. area. In addition, she is a much-sought after vocal coach. She was on the faculty at the prestigious Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys, CA, for several years, and has an effective, practical approach to vocal technique. "I always try to make the lessons fun as well as instructive," she says. "I want my students to experience the joy of singing as well as the mechanics!"
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In 2003, Donna’s long-awaited debut jazz CD, “High Wire” was released. It reflects her command of a vast range of styles, from samba to the blues. It showcases some of LA's best musicians: MARK MASSEY on keyboards, ALDO BENTIVEGNA on drums, ANDERS SWANSON on bass, and features the renowned saxaphonist ERIC MARIENTHAL (of the Chick Corea Elektric Band). “High Wire” showcases all-original arrangements by Donna and Mark Massey, including a “Weather Report” inspired version of “Nature Boy” and a jazz rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River.” The CD has been garnering favorable reviews, and is getting airplay on jazz stations around the world. “High Wire” is available online at www.cdbaby.com/deussen.
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Donna is currently living in Los Angeles with her guitar-playing boyfriend and her three cats. She is hard at work planning and arranging songs for the next CD... so please stay tuned!!
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