Michel Donato

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, "[h]is association with both [Oscar] Peterson and [Bill] Evans marks Donato as one of Canada's foremost jazz bassists...".

[2] He grew up in a musical family, as his grandfather was a violinist and his father, Roland, was a saxophone, flute and piano player and dance band leader.

[1] He did studio work with performers including Félix Leclerc, Nick Ayoub, Sonny Greenwich, Ian McDougall, Bruce Coburn, Dave Samuels, Bernie Senesky, Buddy De Franco, Gordie Fleming, Gilles Vigneault, and Ginette Reno.

In the early 1990s, he did a duo collaboration with virtuoso Quebecois electric bassist Alain Caron from the jazz fusion band UZEB.

He became a member of the Order of Canada in 2007; his award notes that "His technique, virtuosity and mastery have gained him a reputation that extends well beyond our borders.