Donald Wolcott
Encyclopedia
Biography
Donald Wolcott began training as a pianist at age five. He initially studied classical piano, but became more interested in jazz by the time he reached middle school. In high school, he was the pianist for the jazz ensemble, a position he held until graduation. He formed the rock band “Three Easy Payments,” and performed with them over the next four years, singing lead vocals, playing bass and keyboards, and writing songs. In addition, he served as the producer and manager for the group. He is also self-taught in bass, guitar, and drums.In 2005, Wolcott received acclaim from the University of the Arts
University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
in Philadelphia as a top soloist in their annual jazz festival. In 2006, he was accepted as a bassist into the Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
Honors Jazz Ensemble. In 2007, he earned an honorable mention for jazz performance in the National Distinguished Scholar Competition, and in 2008, he received the “Maestro Award” at the Washington D.C. Heritage Music Festival.
Wolcott graduated from Rockville High School
Rockville High School (Maryland)
Rockville High School is a comprehensive, four-year high school in Rockville, Maryland, United States. The school was founded in 1968 and its current building was completed in August, 2004. As of 2009, enrollment was 1,243 students. Earle B...
in Maryland in 2008. He accepted a scholarship to Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
, where he majors in Jazz/Commercial Performance and is the pianist for the Towson University Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
. He works professionally as a pianist in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, performs with local jazz combos, and plays for weddings, parties, corporate events, musical theatre, and vocal accompaniment. He also composes and arranges music, works as a teacher at summer camps for young rock musicians, and teaches private piano, bass, guitar, and drum lessons.
The Diamond Star Project
The Diamond Star Project is a collaborationCollaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
between the rock band Point Valid
Point Valid
Point Valid is a three-piece alternative rock band originating in Baltimore, Maryland. The group formed in October 2006.-Origins and formation:...
and American mezzo-soprano and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.- Biography :...
. It resulted in Point Valid's second CD, Diamond Star (Starflight Music, April 2009), which is a soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for Asaro's novel Diamond Star (Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
, May 2009).
Donald Wolcott joined the Diamond Star Project in 2009, after the members of Point Valid dispersed to pursue their education. He arranged and consolidated the songs from the CD so they could be performed by a duo ensemble in concert, with Wolcott on keyboard and Asaro as the vocalist. Asaro and Wolcott have been touring with the material, presenting it at concerts and science fiction conventions, including venues in the United States, at the Danish National Science Fiction Convention
Fantasticon
Fantasticon is the national Danish science fiction convention since 2004. Held at various locations in Copenhagen.-Guests of Honour:2004: 2005: Christopher Priest, William J...
and at the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
National Science Fiction Convention
Debut album
In 2009, Wolcott signed with Starflight Music, an independent music label. He and Asaro cut an EP titled Goodbye Note (January 2010) of jazz and pop songs, with Asaro on vocals. Wolcott plays every instrument on the EP, including keyboard, bass, guitar, and drums. He also sings the original song "My Favorite Memory."Discography
- Smooth OperatorSmooth Operator"Smooth Operator" is a song by the English group Sade, released as the fourth and final single from their debut album Diamond Life . It was released as a 7" single with "Spirit" as its B-side, and as a 12" maxi single with "Smooth Operator" and "Red Eye" on side A and "Spirit" on side B...
, a cover of the 1984 song by SadeSade (band)Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock.... - Don't Know WhyDon't Know Why"Don't Know Why" is a jazz song written by Jesse Harris which originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. It was the second single by Norah Jones from her breakthrough 2002 album Come Away with Me. Although Jones's version only peaked at number thirty on the U.S...
, a cover of the 1999 song by Jesse HarrisJesse HarrisJesse Harris is a Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter. He has collaborated with several musical artists including Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Nikki Yanofsky, and Lizz Wright.-Early life and education:...
, notably covered by Norah JonesNorah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies... - My Favorite Memory, Music by Donald Wolcott; words by Donald Wolcott and Tomas Clark
- No Answers with In ParadisumIn paradisumIn paradisum is an antiphon from the traditional Latin liturgy of the Western Church Requiem Mass. It is sung by the choir as the body is being taken out of the church...
, a cover of the 2009 song by Point ValidPoint ValidPoint Valid is a three-piece alternative rock band originating in Baltimore, Maryland. The group formed in October 2006.-Origins and formation:...
with Catherine AsaroCatherine AsaroCatherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.- Biography :... - You're So VainYou're So Vain"You're So Vain" is a song written and performed by Carly Simon and released in December 1972. The song is a critical profile of a self-absorbed lover; Simon asserts "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." The subject's identity has been the matter of speculation, fueled by...
, a cover of the 1972 song by Carly SimonCarly SimonCarly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work... - Norwegian WoodNorwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
," a jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
instrumental cover of the 1965 song by The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
All song arrangements by Wolcott. An earlier version of No Answers with In Paradisum appeared on the CD Diamond Star, by Point Valid
Point Valid
Point Valid is a three-piece alternative rock band originating in Baltimore, Maryland. The group formed in October 2006.-Origins and formation:...
with Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.- Biography :...
, 2009. Music by Point Valid
Point Valid
Point Valid is a three-piece alternative rock band originating in Baltimore, Maryland. The group formed in October 2006.-Origins and formation:...
, David Michelsohn and Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro
Catherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.- Biography :...
; words Catherine Asaro. The music was rewritten by Asaro and Wolcott for Goodbye Note.
External links
- Donald Wolcott's Home Page
- Starflight Music on MySpace - includes a list of upcoming shows
- Starflight Music web site