Janine was introduced to gospel, jazz and blues at a very early age by her parents and grandmother.
This Pennsylvania native cannot remember a time when music was not a part of her very existence. She began her musical journey like so many contemporary artists as a member of the choir at her church in Aliquippa PA. She also had the opportunity to expand on her solo performances as a member of the Bach Choir of PA which performed some of Broadways most exciting musicals. Janine continued to use the gift she was given to perform at various functions and special events until she relocated to the Washington Metropolitan area in the summer of 1988. During the summer of 1996 Janine performed her debut concert in the DC area at New Genesis Baptist Church; this celestial songbird has been flying ever since.
Since 1998 Ms Gilbert-Carter has performed with the Washington Performing Arts Society Men & Women of the Gospel Mass Choir and has shared the stage with notable artists such as Tramaine Hawkins, Oleta Adams, Regina Bell, Ann Nesby and Donnie McClurkin and Sweet Honey in the Rock for the WPAS's Annual Gospel concert held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Since September 2001 Janine has worked with Local Jazz musical talents Ronnie Wells-Elliston and Ron Elliston. Audiences have been delighted with her performances at “Twins Jazz” the U street Jazz series concerts held at “The Islander” in Washington D.C., The FMJS East Coast Jazz Festival and The legendary Washington DC supper Club Blues Alley as well as several White House Events.
Janine was winner of the 2002 Absolute Jazz competition which was held in Washington DC, she was a finalist in the 2003 FMJS Scholarship competition and the 2004 Mayor's Billie Holiday vocal competition and a quarter finalist in the 2005 American traditions competition in Savannah GA. She has also performed at many special events were she has shared the stage with area-wide Jazz musicians like pianist Arron Graves, Vince Smith, Eric Byrd, and Ron Elliston; bassist Wes Biles, James (Tex) King, Saxaphonist Paul Carr and percussionist Mike Smith, Nassar Abadey and the late Ricky Loza.
Janine has released three CD’s in two different genre’s (Jazz) “In The Moment” and (Gospel) “God Spoke To Me” and Janine Gilbert-Carter & Friends Live at the FMJS quarterly gospel concert (Indie). Her fourth CD and second Jazz project Live at the FMJS East Coast Jazz Festival “A Song For You” Will be available this September 2006
Janine’s prayer is to have a positive effect on all that hear her. “To exude the feeling of warmth and love through her music”. Honors and Awards:
* 2006- Maryland Sate Arts Council (MSAC) Individual Artist Award in Solo Vocal Performance
* 2005- Quarter Finalist- Americas Traditions vocal competition Savannah, GA
* 2004- Finalist - Baltimore MD Mayor's Billie Holiday competition
* 2003 - Finalist - FMJS East Coast Jazz competition
* 2002 - Winner of The Absolute Jazz competition Wash. D.C.
Memberships:
*FMJS Jazz Scholarship Fund
*International Association for Jazz Education
