Home » Jazz Musicians » Gabriela Anders

Gabriela Anders

Gabriela Anders was born to music amidst the grace, paradox and tradition of Argentina. Her father is a noted jazz saxophonist, his father, a classical violinist and her grandmother on her mother’s side, a piano teacher. Gabriela studied classical guitar privately, and music and piano at a Conservatory in Buenos Aires.

“Growing up, there was a lot of Brazilian music, and I was totally fascinated with it because it’s so harmonically rich and melodically interesting.”

Adding to the musical medley was her father’s influence which became even stronger than her classical studies. After finishing high school, Gabriela decided that, rather than continuing her classical studies in Buenos Aires, she would move to New York. There she studied orchestration for brass and strings in a class conducted by Don Sebesky and composition at Hunter College. Gabriela started to write her own material. Her studio and club work took off leading to a record deal with major label Warner Brothers Jazz.

Gabriela Anders’ debut album on Warner Bros. Records, (1999) “Wanting” is brimming with vocal subtlety; although smooth, it is anything but simple. It features arrangements and production by Paul Brown, George Duke, Allain Mallet and Anders herself. The album elicited much praise for Anders’ vision and impassioned vocal style. Her unique marriage of Brazilian, Latin and Jazz led to Vogue and People Magazine describing Anders and her music as “exotic and bold”, “wonderfully soulful”, and “one of the most distinctive new voices to hit the music scene in years”.

Her second record for Warner Bros Records was a European release entitled “Gabriela” which featured an array of world-class sidemen, including Christian McBride, Amir “Questlove” Thompson and Kirk Whalum. Again, she contributed ten of the album’s twelve tracks.

“Cool Again is a gift from one of the most accomplished and appealing contemporary vocalists creating today.”

Her next CD “Last Tango in Rio” was released in 2005 by major label EMI. “Last Tango in Rio” is a collection of songs closely associated with Billie holiday that have been uniquely transformed by Gabriela’s interpretation and orchestration. Hailed by critics (Los Angeles Times, Billboard magazine and People magazine)) as highly -original and creative presentation of standards, “Last Tango in Rio” represents a fresh and effervescent take on a classic song book that has previously defied reinvention. “Last Tango in Rio” was chosen as one of the top Jazz Releases of 2005.

In October of 2009, JVC Japan released her CD “Bossa Beleza“. “Bossa Beleza” blends her own immediately recognizable sound with that of her first musical love, classic Bossa Nova. Eleven soulful and intimate tracks, including the Brazilian standards “Dindi”, “Folhas Secas”, “One Note Samba” and “Agua de Beber”.

Read more

Tags

14
Album Review

Wayne Krantz: Write Out Your Head

Read "Write Out Your Head" reviewed by Mike Jacobs


What do you want from Wayne Krantz anyway? It's a particularly relevant question when new release time rolls around for the guitar icon(oclast). Not that Krantz himself seems to give the question much thought. He's more known for being preoccupied with things like inventing (and reinventing) himself, exploring and capturing ineffable group mojo, or pushing the envelope toward things he has yet to try or accomplish. And, as many longtime Krantz fans would surely tell you, rightfully so. ...

116
Album Review

Gabriela Anders: Last Tango in Rio

Read "Last Tango in Rio" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


Brazil and Argentina are rivals in soccer and basketball. And the people speak different languages: Portuguese and Spanish. However, there's one remarkable young singer who defies cross-border feuds. Gabriela Anders was born in Argentina, has embraced the music of Brazil and resides in the United States. Her multi-nationalism is reflected in her music. This is brought to light with Last Tango in Rio , the long-awaited North American follow-up to Wanting. Born into a family of musicians, Anders ...

109
Album Review

Gabriela Anders: Last Tango In Rio

Read "Last Tango In Rio" reviewed by Jim Santella


Hip and light, Last Tango in Rio features Gabriela Anders' whispered vocals in a swinging, contemporary affair. She multi-tracks her vocal selections to achieve a plurality in the spotlight, as her ensemble provides smooth sounds that recall the shoreline of her native Argentina.

Drifting smooth jazz and oceanfront scenes go together like cookies and milk. Anders puts the two into her package smartly, with an appeal toward what makes us relax. Her session would mellow even the most ...

Read more articles

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Write Out Your Head

Abstract Logix
2020

buy

Last Tango In Rio

Narada Jazz
2004

buy

Last Tango In Paris

Intuition Records
2004

buy

You Know What It's...

Intuition Records
1998

buy

Fire Of Love

Intuition Records
1998

buy

Wanting

Intuition Records
1998

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.