BIO
Gabriela Martina is a vocalist, composer, and bandleader who grew up in Switzerland. She spent 13 years living and working in the US (Boston & New York) learning from the people who made Jazz (among many other styles of music originating from the US) as important of an art form as it is today.
Gabriela grew up yodeling with her family and had performances as early as the age of 4. Being raised on a beautiful farm in the heart of Switzerland surrounded by a musical family has influenced her musical path strongly. Martina’s upcoming album ‘Homage to Grämlis’ (2022, delayed by Corona 2020), is a tribute to the farm in the Swiss Alps where she was raised. In spring of 2019 she won the LABgrant from The Boston Foundation, which gave her great support with her album production of ‘Homage to Grämlis’.
In the fall of 2021, Martina had the great honor to receive the arts & culture award 2020 from the arts and culture commission Horw, her home town in Switzerland. This grant will further help the album release tour with ‘Homage to Grämlis’, that is now rescheduled for March 2022. She also received the DIPLÔME DE MÉDAILLE DE VERMEIL from the lauréats Arts-Sciences-Lettres, 2020, in Paris (France).
During the time of the pandemic, Gabriela Martina has composed nine new compositions for my newest album called ‘STATES’. The word ‘States’ refers to the United States of America, but also to a ‘state of mind’, or simply a ‘state of being’. Sounds created with your voice and percussion/drumming as the first human musical elements. I have used them as the core elements for my compositions. Her works include word play, music with words (spoken word) and words with no meaning (gibberish). The release for this album is slated for fall 2022.
Released in 2016 with a four-star review from DownBeat, her album, No White Shoes, represented a major step in the singer’s sojourn as a 21st-century musician. Martina had the opportunity to perform and collaborate with heavyweights like Meshell Ndegeocello, Jack DeJohnette, and Angelique Kidjo. She recorded with veteran drummer J.R. Robinson and was a semi-finalist in the Shure Voice Competition at the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival, performing with guitarist Lee Ritenour’s band. Martina released a critically hailed EP in 2010, Curiosity, which included her original song “Ain’t Nobody,” a finalist in the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards in 2012. Martina owns her own booking agency called Red Velvet Sounds and is cofounder and curator of the free improv concert series In Momentum.
In June 2019 she took part in the Central Swiss Yodeling Festival and graduated with top marks. She has also performed in concert venues such as the Berklee Performance Center, Jordan Hall, International Tennis Hall of Fame, State House of Flags and the Scullers Jazz Club. Gabriela has a bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music and a master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Donna McElroy, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, Miguel Zenon, Frank Carlberg, Dominique Eade, Ken Schaphorst, Jerry Bergonzi among many others.
Martina is passionate about learning more about other cultures, helping to develop a sense for community, and fighting inequality and racism. She is a strong advocate of causes that promote equal human rights independent of religious or political affiliations. From 2009 to 2010, Martina was the founder and president of the Cultural Leaders Club at Berklee College of Music, where students investigated causes and effects in terms of race, gender, and ethnicity issues. Sonic Relief, which Martina cofounded, was awarded the Berklee Urban Service Award 2016 for using music to aid people in need, such as organizing a humanitarian fundraising concert for Syrian refugees, featuring Simon Shaheen and the Lee Swensen Katz Trio in December 2015.
Gabriela Martina has many hidden talents, one of them being cooking which she clearly proved through her cookbook she wrote during the desperate times of the pandemic 2020/2021 called ‘Dinner with My Neighbor’. Read more about her and her vision on her website: https://www.gabrielamartina.com/
shows
THE EUROPEAN ALBUM RELEASE TOUR for ‘HOMAGE TO GRäMLIS’ is rescheduled for Fall 2022!
MORE INFO COMING SOON…
PERFORMANCE HISTORY - AWARDS/HONORS
ARTS & CULTURE AWARD from the arts and culture commission Horw, Luzern 2020, Horw, Switzerland
DIPLÔME DE MÉDAILLE DE VERMEIL received from the lauréats Arts-Sciences-Lettres 2020, Paris, France
LAB 2019 grant recipient from the Boston Foundation 2019, Boston MA
7th Shure Voice Competition of the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 - Semi-Finalist 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival 2009, Switzerland
Participant at the Swiss Yodel competition in Horw near Luzern, Switzerland 2019
Berklee Urban Service Award 2016 - Awarded to Sonic Relief for using music to aid people in need (organizing a humanitarian fundraising concert for Syrian Refugees, featuring Simon Shaheen and Lee Swensen Katz Trio, December 2015) 2016, Boston, MA
ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards 2012 - Finalist, original composition “Ain’t Nobody” 2012, New York, NY
Performance at the International Tennis Hall of Fame singing the German National Anthem, Newport, RI 2018
Performance at the State House of Flags singing the National Anthem of the United States, Boston, MA 2017
Performed and/or recorded with major artists such as Angelique Kidjo, Jack DeJohnette, J.R. Robinson, Patrice Rushen, Meshell Ndegeocello, Alfredo Cardim, Steve Bailey, 2009 present
Currently actively performing on the East Coast with in various groups with John Lockwood, Phil Grenadier, Kevin Barry, Billy Novick, Stan Strickland, Tim Ray, Dave Clark, Kevin Harris etc 2008-present
Professional work as a performer and session vocalist, Switzerland, France, UK, US, 2000-present
CAROLINA - by Steve Bailey
- 2020
BUY IT HERE: https://www.vixmerch.com/products/carolina
Choosing a duo setting and tapping into his deep pool of creativity, Steve Bailey takes bass to a new place on Carolina, while redefining the meaning of “duet”. This masterpiece features Bailey on 6-String Fretless bass and 17 other artists including Ron Carter, Mike Stern, and Anthony Jackson; Ian Anderson, Dennis Chambers, Howard Levy, Bakithi Kumalo, Becca Stevens, Victor Wooten, the legendary Willie Nelson, as well as Willie’s son Lukas Nelson, and more.
Homage to Grämlis
NOT RELEASED YET! CORONA PUT A STOP TO IT!
GABRIELA MARTINA - voice
KYLE MILES - bass
MAXIM LUBARSKY - piano
JUSSI REIJONEN - guitar
VANCIL COOPER - drums
BEN ROSENBLUM - accordion
with
GUS SEBRING
- alphorn on Narcissus
Produced by Gabriela Martina
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Luis Bacque at
BACQUE RECORDING New Jersey, NJ
All music and lyrics by Gabriela Martina
except for Mis Bruune Hüüsli by Jakob Ummel,
This Country – That Country with an excerpt
of Gibeljutz written by Hans Aregger and
Heaven by Duke Ellington, arranged by Gabriela Martina.
- 2020
Bob Davoli - guitar and vocals
Marty Ballou - bass
Kevin Barry - electric and acoustic guitar, dobro, lap steel, national steel and pedal steel
Thorleifur Davidsson - harmonica
Phil Grenadier - trumpet
Maureen McMullan - vocals
Billy Novick - clarinet
Giuseppe Paradiso - percussion
Kathleen Parks o-fiddle and vocals
Jake Tango - vocals
Gabriela Martina - vocals
All music and lyrics written by Bob Davoli, with the exception of “Some These Days I’ll BE Gone” by Charlie Patton.
– 2016
Gabriela Martina – voice
Alex Bailey – drums
Kyle Miles – bass
Jiri Nedoma – piano
Jussi Reijonen - guitar
All music & lyrics by Gabriela Martina
except Witch Hunt by Wayne Shorter, arranged by Gabriela Martina
A Night In Tunisia by John “Dizzy” Gillespie & Frank Paparelli, arranged by Gabriela Martina
Produced by Gabriela Martina
Mixed & mastered by Luis Bacque at BACQUE RECORDING ENGINEERING, New York NY
– 2012
Gabriela Martina – voice
Alex Bailey – drums
Kyle Miles – bass
Jiri Nedoma – piano
Jussi Reijonen - guitar
All compositions by Gabriela Martina except “A Night in Tunisia” by John “Dizzy” Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
Produced by Gabriela Martina
Recorded by Eduardo Muñiz at Perfection Studios, Boston MA
- 2010
Gabriela Martina – voice
Alex Bailey – drums
Shin Sakaino – bass
Jiri Nedoma – piano
Jussi Reijonen - guitar
All compositions by Gabriela Martina
Produced by Gabriela Martina
Recorded by Maio Obregon and Nuno Fernandes at Wellspring Sound, Acton MA
PinkBliss
That simply isn’t done - 2008
Gabriela Martina – voice
Gregor Obrist – guitar
Felix Bruehwiler - guitar
Tobias Bachmann – bass
Cedric Habermacher – drums
SELECTED OTHER RECORDINGS
Aromat: destiny (2007)
Talking Loud: Rever Be (2006)
Not2Help: Stuff (2004)
Gabriela: Jazzmood (2004)
Gabriela: When all are gone… (2002)
Press
“Gabriela Martina’s Swiss roots offer an incredible range as she practically yodels her way through “Narcissus” en route to her mostly originals program on No White Shoes (Self Release; 55:42 ★★★★)”
– Downbeat, John Ephland
“No White Shoes offers an impressive range of musical settings for Gabriela Martina’s agile voice in her originals and her unexpected takes on jazz standards. […] The album is a strong showing for Gabriela.”
-Mark Small, Editor, Berklee Today magazine
“Gabriela Martina’s Swiss roots offer an incredible range as she practically yodels her way through “Narcissus” en route to her mostly originals program on No White Shoes (Self Release; 55:42 ★★★★). Her delivery is a blend of jazz with pop improvisation, and her creative, invested covers of Wayne Shorter’s “Witch Hunt” (stunningly sung as overdubbed a cappella) and Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night In Tunisia” (a flat-out rocker featuring guitarist Jussi Reijonen) uproot convention.”
– Downbeat, John Ephland
“…The songwriting and singing both recall Joni Mitchell—one of pop music’s greatest eclectic artists—and Finnish guitarist Jussi Reijonen turns in a memorable rock guitar solo….An impressive debut. Gabriela Martina has a contemporary sound—similar to artists like Gretchen Parlato or even Norah Jones—but with more emphasis on her own songwriting. It’s a potent blend of jazz and pop, stamped with her own personality and aided by a strong backing band…”
-Mark Sullivan from All About Jazz
Musician/composer (librarian by profession) with a special interest in bebop-based jazz and experimental music, writer for All About Jazz
“No White Shoes offers an impressive range of musical settings for Gabriela Martina’s agile voice in her originals and her unexpected takes on jazz standards. Of note are the gorgeous layered a cappella vocals in her treatment of Wayne Shorter’s “Witch Hunt,” the mood swings from the introspective “Us”and “Love Me” to the r&b bump of the title song, and a rocked up take on Dizzy’s “A Night in Tunisia.” Throughout, Gabriela scats liberally while also generously sharing solo time with her very capable band members. The album is a strong showing for Gabriela.”
-Mark Small, Editor, Berklee Today magazine
“Female jazz singers with a timbre, an expressiveness, a voice range and such a feeling for real good songs you’ll find not so often at the moment. Gabriela Martina’s voice is swinging upwards in the highest heights, and in the next moment she’s trying some scat-singing. Amazing!”
-Rainer Bratfisch, Jazz Podium, Germany
![- “The vocal range is impressive and the phrasing and not delivery reflect Martina’s unique style. […] For originality and pure voice Martina scores five stars. […] “– by Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal, UKREAD ENTIRE REVIEW](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b89d8b39d5abb103bea6f27/1537838718226-PA5169YI7CJ3GPRT605X/Jazz-Journal_cover-page_for-web.jpg)
“The vocal range is impressive and the phrasing and not delivery reflect Martina’s unique style. […] For originality and pure voice Martina scores five stars. […] “
– by Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal, UK
“Ich brauche das Kribbeln. Vielleicht auch die latente Unsicherheit.”
Gabriela Martina
MORE SWISS PRESS:
Le Temps, by Christian Jacot-Descombes (July 24th 2019)
Tele 1 (June 28th 2019) Yodel competition in my home town Horw (near Lucerne)
‘From Yodel to Bebop” Swissinfo Video (2019)
“The jazz singer with Swiss folk roots'“ Swissinfo podcast (2020)
“Gabriela Martina’s music absolutely shines with many moments of intensity, but every so often you are privy to that elusive moment of the music’s whispered breath and being.”
–Raul da Gama, Jazz Global Media, Canada
“One of the most exciting albums to come out this year so far! It is a delightful fusion of jazz, jazz rock, and folk jazz. Definitely a voice to look out for in the future.”
-Ruth Fisher, JazzFM
“Martina’s take of “A Night In Tunisia” is the most powerful I’ve heard since Chaka Khan recorded it in 1981!”
-Jerry Gordon, Serenade to a Cuckoo WPRB 103.3 FM, Princeton University
“What a breath of fresh air! Brilliant songwriter. This CD deserves more attention worldwide! “
– Bradley M. Stone, Host: “The Creative Source,” SoulandJazz.com Radio
“Gabriela has the unique ability to send the listener on a sonic ride through beautiful vocals backed up by tight orchestration. It’s beyond easy on the ears .. it’s an elegance that captures the best of where jazz is today and why it was created in the first place. Gabriela is a talent that shines on today and will continue to dazzle as her career marches on confidently like a soaring song she puts her touch on.”
– Joe Dimino – Neon Jazz Radio – Kansas City, MO
“The compositions are stand-outs. Exceptionally powerful. And she is the perfect vessel.”
-Trish Hennessy, Hybrid Jazz
“Some artists hit you on a wave-length that is a natural one for you, and do it with such flair and verve that you are hooked into the music for good and all. […] poetic, sophisticated harmonically and melodically, with some rock/jazz overtones and a general unpredictability in the best sense.”
– Grego Applegate Edwards, gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.com
“… I had the pleasure of performing with Gabriela Martina at the 7th Shure Jazz Voice Competition, hosted by the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2009. Gabriela is an outstanding arranger and vocalist. Her talent and skills have exposed her to many respected and wellknown musicians…”
-Patrice Rushen
Composer/Producer/International Recording Artist/Pianist/ Educator
“There are slight similarities to other’s working in the modern jazz genre, but none which subtract from the singular phrasing and insight that Gabriela Martina brings to her artistry. Whether weaving original multi-layered vocal lines to classics such as Wayne Shorter’s Witch Hunt or distinctively re-interpreting Dizzy Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisia, Ms. Martina makes a strong case for her own brand of imaginatively refreshing jazz. “
– John Hammell, Homegrown RadioNJ
“It is with great pleasure to be assured that Gabriela is continuing her quest of intense determination to create original music of taste and uniqueness. Her recent recordings confirms her relentless work!”
-Joe Sample
Composer/Pianist (The Crusaders, Tina Turner, B.B. King, Eric Clapton)
“The one to really raise the eyebrows is an almost Queen-like read with electrical guitars on a roller coaster ride during “A Night In Tunisia” while pulling out the passion plugs on a delicate piano duet on “Thirsty Flower.” A wonderful white knuckler.”
– by George Harris, Jazz weekly
“I can’t recall hearing such a beautiful and unique voice as Gabriela’s. I would call her the Enya of jazz”
– Randy McElliot, from www.mcran.com Radio
“A great vocal jazz CD with excellent original tracks and superb versions. Especially the well-known Gillespie’s “A night in Tunisia” is a magic track with overflowing pop, jazz and rock elements. A true surprise!”
– DISKORYCHION/ VINYLMINE from GREECE
“Gabriela is from Switzerland but is now resident in the USA. Her vocal range is on display to marvellous effect on this release with very stylish backing from all the musicians particularly Jussi Reijonen. It’s important to keep the faith on this fine musical mix for a true appreciation of what is on offer. I was particularly impressed with the manner in which Wayne Shorter’s Witch Hunt was tackled – the multi tracked choral effect is marvellous. A Night In Tunisia stands out also bringing a anew dimension to what is an oft covered classic.Of the originals on the album Narcissus stands out & is a most positive lead track. The amount of styles & freedom on the various tracks will overwhelm some listeners so patience is the key for complete appreciation of this fine work.”
-Sean Brophy, Jazz Mine presenter /producer Saturdays 5PM dublincityfm.ie or Mixcloud.com
“A little Brazilian, a little nu jazz, a little cabaret, a little rock—it all mashes up nicely as she crafts her own design.[…] After hours music that really sounds good any time at all.”
– Chris Spector, Midwest Record
“Gabriela Martina is most definitely a force to be reckoned with. She has been compared to Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell, but personally I don’t get that. Martina doesn’t sound like an artiste who’s ‘flirting’ with jazz, she is the real thing, the body and soul of jazz. Her music is forceful, but sensitive, in a way that reminds me of Annette Peacock, surely our greatest living female jazz composer and performer.”
-Richard Pearson – ENTERTAINMENT Radio, Scarborough, UK
“Young Swiss-born Gabriela Martina is one of the most intriguing female jazz vocalists to step on to the jazz landscape lately. Presenting crisp, high-reaching vocals on a host of fresh, modern and funk-styled jazz originals and re-imagined standards, her debut album, “No White Shoes,” delivers a powerful musical introduction to a gifted singer who, we are certain, to hear much more of, in the future.”
– Edward Blanco
Producer and Host of “Jazz Café” at WDNA, 88.9FM in Miami, FL and writer with Allaboutjazz.com
“Swiss-born vocalist Gabriela Martina’s debut album No White Shoes is a compelling showcase of diverse sound, and a marvelous voice. At its core, the album is bebop jazz infused with contemporary techno and rock, all held together by Martina’s impressive range. She can go from a somber to ecstatic sound in an instant.”
– Dave Luhrssen, Express Milwaukee, Milwaukee
“Gabriela’s well-crafted compositions have a pop catchiness, but retain an essential jazz feel; her vocals are confident, and the musical backup is excellent. Guitarist Jussi Reijonen is a standout, especially on Narcissus and A Night in Tunisia.”
-Charles Husson, Host-Evening Jazz, Hawai’i Public Radio
“…when I say Gabriela Martina is in an elite class I say it because she has achieved it by playing hundreds of gigs where the real playing is taking place and she has lived the “Music Life”, performing and composing around the world, playing Jazz with a unique blend of world influences…”
-Jamey Haddad, Percussionist (Paul Simon, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman)
“It takes a strong person, and a unique artist, to work their way through it. From my experience in the industry, and with Gabriela personally […] I believe she has what it takes.“
-David Greenberg, Director of Marketing – Ted Kurland Associates
“Gabriela Martina’s participation in a musical project challenges everyone to reach for the next level, she is constantly inspiring the musicians she performs with to do their best work.”
-Joe Mulholland, Pianist, recording artist, composer, teacher & Chair of the Harmony Department of Berklee College of Music
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also get in touch via the form below.
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artist relief support - covid-19
Dinner with my neighbor - COOKBOOK
The current situation of Covid-19 puts us humans all in a very unusual situation with the fact alone, that we now all should stay at home and stay safe. We all do have to eat at some point during the day so I wanted to help you guys with some possible cooking ideas since I love to cook.
The idea of ‘Dinner with my neighbor’ is, that we can still be social even during those difficult times. It’s an idea of making food for at least one neighbor or friend and then eat it with him/her/them via facetime or skype or whatever you use these days. I’d like to invite you to do the same and I hope to be able to inspire you at least a little bit with some new meal ideas for the next few days.
And if you liked my video and find it useful, please share it online #dinnerwithmyneighbor. If you want to support a freelance musician who lost all her income due to the Coronavirus, you can simply support me with buying any of my albums or my cookbook ‘Dinner with My Neighbor’ at my shop: https://www.gabrielamartina.com/dinnerwithmyneighbor or donate whatever feels right to you with an option below. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
UNITED STATES
Donation squarespace: http://bit.ly/3b89d2n
Paypal: paypal.me/GabrielaMartina
Venmo: @Gabriela-Martina
SWITZERLAND
Raiffeisenbank Horw CH14 8118 6000 0016 1181 3
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