Donald Vega is a

Nicaraguan Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America after Guatemala and ...

-born

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

jazz pianist and music composer.

Early life

Vega was born in

Masaya Masaya () is the capital city of Masaya Department in Nicaragua. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada, Nicaragua, Granada and 31 km southeast of Managua. It is located just east of the Masaya Volcano, an active volcano ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

, a town well known for its handicrafts. He was born with a severe

cleft palate A cleft lip contains an opening in the upper lip that may extend into the nose. The opening may be on one side, both sides, or in the middle. A cleft palate occurs when the palate (the roof of the mouth) contains an opening into the nose. The ...

, for which he has had many surgeries to correct and save his hearing. He fled the country at the age of 15, arriving in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1989. Vega attended high school at

Crenshaw High School Crenshaw High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located on 11th Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The school first opened in 1968 and currently enrolls arou ...

. In the late 1990s he was at risk of being returned to his native country as a consequence of the Immigration Reform Act of 1996. With the aid of friends and supporters, he is now a legal resident. Donald Vega was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. When he emigrated to the United States at age 15 he found a musical home with the

Colburn School The Colburn School is a private performing arts school in Los Angeles with a focus on music and dance. It consists of four divisions: the Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, Community School of Performing Arts and the Trudl Zipper Dance Instit ...

. 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 Billy Higgins (October 11, 1936 – May 3, 2001) was an American jazz drummer. He played mainly free jazz and hard bop. Biography Higgins was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. Higgins played on Ornette Coleman's first records, be ...

a
The World Stage
and continued at CSPA wit
Jeffrey Lavner
then later with bassist

John Clayton John Clayton may refer to: Arts and entertainment Writing *John Clayton (architect) (died 1861), English architect and writer *John Clayton (sportswriter) (1954–2022), American sportswriter and reporter *John Bell Clayton and Martha Clayton, Joh ...

at th
University of Southern California
During his time in Los Angeles Donald was mentored by and performed with the celebrated conguero

Francisco Aguabella Francisco Aguabella (October 10, 1925 – May 7, 2010) was an Afro-Cuban percussionist whose career spanned folk, jazz, and dance bands. He was a prolific session musician and recorded seven albums as a leader. Biography In Cuba Aguabella was ...

as well as notable bassist

Al McKibbon Al McKibbon (January 1, 1919 – July 29, 2005) was an American jazz double bassist, known for his work in bop, hard bop, and Latin jazz. In 1947, after working with Lucky Millinder, Tab Smith, J. C. Heard, and Coleman Hawkins, he replac ...

. He went on to graduate fro
Manhattan School of Music
an
The Juilliard School
where he studied with pianist

Kenny Barron Kenneth Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist and composer who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era. Early life ...

Phil Markowitz Phil Markowitz (born September 6, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York) is a jazz pianist and educator. Discography As leader * ''Sno' Peas'' (Ken Music, 1991) * ''In the Woods'' (Passage, 1996) * ''Taxi Ride'' (Passage, 1998) * ''Catalys ...

an
Gary Dial
Vega is a professor at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

, living in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Career

Vega performs internationally as the pianist for bassist

Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy Awards, and is also a Cello, cellist who has reco ...

’s Golden Striker Trio (which also featured guitarist

Russell Malone Russell Lamar Malone (November 8, 1963 – August 23, 2024) was an American jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988 and went on to work with Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s. Biography Malone was born in ...

until his death in August 2024), with whom he has recorded several albums. Mr. Vega is also a professor at The Juilliard School and sits on the board of BackCountry Jazz, a non-profit organization which provides music education programs and performances to underprivileged youth. Some of his competitive winnings include The Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Award in 1991,

Down Beat ''DownBeat'' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1 ...

's 2007 Jazz Student Soloist Award and 1st place at the 2008 Philips Jazz Piano Competition at the

University of West Florida The University of West Florida (West Florida or UWF) is a public university in Pensacola, Florida, United States. Established in 1963 as a member institution of the State University System of Florida, the University of West Florida is a comprehe ...

, as well as an original composition featured in the CD accompanying JAZZIZ's October 2008 Education Issue. He was named
Guggenheim Fellow for Music Composition in 2023

Discography

As leader

* ''As I Travel'' (2023) * ''With Respect To Monty'' (2015) * ''Spiritual Nature'' (2012) * ''Tomorrows'' (2008)

As sideman

* Kirk Edwards: ''The AKA Project'' (2022) * Eric Wyatt: ''A Song of Hope'' (2021) * Shirley Crabbe: ''Bridges'' (2018) * Dan Adler: ''Friends On The Moon'' (2018) *

with Donald Vega &

: ''Golden Striker (Live at Theaterstübchen Kassel)'' (2017) * Brandon Lee: ''Common Thread'' (2017) * Letizia Gambi: ''Blue Monday'' (2016) * Clarence Penn: ''Monk: The Lost Files'' (2014) * Lauren Meccia: ''Inside Your Eyes'' (2014) * Jason Stewart: ''Cyclicality'' (2013) *

Trio: ''Cocktails At The Cotton Club'' (2012) * Clifton Anderson: ''And so We Carry On'' (2012) * Bryan Carter: ''Enchantment'' (2011) * Claudio Roditi: ''Bons Amigos'' (2011) * Shirley Crabbe: ''Home'' (Produced by Donald Vega) (2011) * Behn Gillece and Ken Fowser: ''Duotone'' (2011) * Village Orchestra Playaz, Alfredo Rivera & DJK: ''Black Maya Voodo'' (2010) * Karen Francis: ''Nostalgia'' (2010) * Brandon Lee: ''Absolute-lee'' (2010) * Bennie Wallace: ''Disorder at the Border'' (2007) * Anthony Wilson: ''Power of Nine'' (2007) * Ryan Cross and Lorca Hart: ''Cross Hart Jazz Experience'' (2006) * Justo Almario: ''Love Thy Neighbor'' (2004) * Jose Rizo's Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars: ''The Last Bull Fighter'' 2004 *

: ''Ochimini'' (2004) *

: ''Black Orchid'' (2003) *

Ronald Muldrow Ronald Muldrow (February 2, 1949, in Chicago – January 31, 2007, in Los Angeles) was an American soul jazz and hard bop jazz guitarist. As an emerging jazz guitarist in the early 1970s, Muldrow connected with soul-jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris ...

: ''Mapenzi'' 2003 *

: ''Cubacan'' (2002) *

: ''Agua de Cuba'' (1999) * Anthony Wilson: ''Adult Themes'' (1999)

References

External links

DonaldVega.com
Official website. {{DEFAULTSORT:Vega, Donald 1974 births Living people People from Masaya Nicaraguan pianists Nicaraguan emigrants to the United States American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists 21st-century American pianists 21st-century American male musicians Resonance Records artists Crenshaw High School alumni Colburn School alumni