Michel Donato was born in Montreal in August 1942, and is recognised as one of the most popular double-bass players in Canada. Known for having played with greats such as Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Toots Thielemans and Joe Morello, he has also worked as a studio musician for well-known chanson artists such as Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour and Félix Leclerc. From the sixties until today, he has recorded as a bassist with Sonny Greenwich (70), Oscar Peterson (72), Ian McDougall (75), Bruce Coburn (76), Dave Samuels (76), Bernie Senesky trio (76), Budy De Franco (76), Gordie Fleming (77), Oliver Jones (85), etc. He has composed numerous soundtracks, including “Omni Romance” in 1987, “Le marché du couple” in 1990 and “Les Muses orphelines” in 2000 (which earned him a Jutras 2001 award). He also composes for the TV series “Sous un ciel variable” and the daily “Virginie” broadcast on Radio-Canada. Whether he be working intensely with the jazz greats or in the shadow of the stars.
