Born: May 31, 1984 Primary Instrument: Vocal
CURIOSITY
Incredible songwriting, arranging and musicianship, smooth flowing vocals, passion, honesty, and soul. Gabriela Martina and company delivers all this and more on Curiosity, her first offering to a music world in waiting. Featuring the talented lineup of Alex Bailey on drums, Kyle Miles on bass, Jussi Reijonen on guitar, and pianist Jiri Nedoma, this release is a powerful collection of Gabriela's thoughts on many aspects of the human experience.
On “Ain't Nobody”, smoky, sultry vocals glide over a tight rhythm section in this soulful declaration of love and appreciation. Contemplative guitar chords join with playful vocals to draw us completely into “Like a Seed in the Earth”, during the opening lines. Add to this lush harmonies supported by the perfect percussion and piano accents, and you end up feeling all the colors of the emotional rainbow. Growth, love, joy, longing, despair, and ...curiosity.
The upbeat “Narcissus” reflects a journey of inner strength, freedom and liberation, while “My Best Smile for You” comes across as more of a sassy, funky reassurance of friendship, love, and steadfastness. “Catch Me a Star,” rounds out this musical experience with a passionate, tribal groove which are a perfect match to the warm, rich vocals of Ms. Gabriela Martina.
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Gabriela Martina (born Gabriela Martina Heer), a Swiss native, was onstage for the first time at the age of five with her family as a traditional Swiss Yodel Group. After studying music in high school and a year at London’s Vocaltech Music College, Gabriela started her professional studies in singing at the Jazzschool in Lucerne.
Before she moved to Boston to study at the renowned Berklee College of Music in 2008 she was very active on the Swiss music scene performing among others with funk bands Talking Loud and Soulvirus, the pop rock group PinkBliss, the electro/urban trio aromat, an a cappella duo called not2help and her own jazz duo featuring pianist Luzia von Wyl.
During her career, she has performed with Meshell Ndegeocello, Jack DeJohnette, Angelique Kidjo, recorded with J.R. Robinson and was part of a master class with Dr. Bernice Reagon. In 2009, she was invited to sing at the Sure Voice Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Lee Ritenour’s band.
Gabriela has worked with renowned teachers such as Donna McElroy, Lauren Newton, Bob Stoloff, Dennis Montgomery III, Mili Bermejo, Kudisan Kai-Regalot, Lisa Thorson and Armsted Christian. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in May 2010.
Gabriela is currently living in New York City, and working with her group which includes Alex Bailey on drums, Kyle Miles on bass, Jussi Reijonen on guitar and Jiri Nedoma on piano.
In addition to performing regularly around the East Coast and Europe, and her work as a voice teacher, she has begun composing for her much anticipated second album, due out July 2012.
Awards:
Semi-finalist, Sure Voice Competition, Montreux Jazz Festival 2009-Patrice Rushen (Composer/Producer/International Recording Artist/Pianist/Educator)
Primary Instrument:
Vocal
Location:
Ridgewood, NY
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Please contact directly for schedule and pricing.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Please contact directly for schedule and pricing.
