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
“{...} GABRIELA MARTINA, THIS IDIOSYNCRATIC SWISS SINGER, WHO SPICES UP HER SOMETIMES MUSICAL-SOUNDING JAZZY SONGS WITH ALPINE SOUNDS AND ROCKING ELECTRIC GUITAR PASSAGES, YODELING INCLUDED. ORIGINAL AND BRAVE AND SOMEWHERE AN EXPERIMENTAL WORK OF ART ... {…}”
CONCERTO-Magazin (AT) by Herbert Höpfl - p.53, 2023
“Even the first few minutes of this album leave no doubt that we are dealing with music of the highest caliber.”
Jazz Fun (DE) | By Jacek Brun
“‘HOMAGE TO GRÄMLIS’ IS A STEPPING STONE THAT 99 PERCENT OF ASPIRING JAZZ MUSICIANS CAN DREAM OF.”
Jazznu (NL) by Rinus van der Heijden, 2023
“WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN MUSIC IS TO NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT. I WANT TO SURPRISE MYSELF AND BE A PART OF THE MOMENT OF CREATION, EXPRESSING MYSELF IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, EVERY TIME I SING.”
DownBeat Magazine (US) by J.Poet - p.66, Oct 2023
English Text Press
DownBeat Magazine (US) by J.Poet - p.66
All About Jazz (US) - featuring ‘Gone Tree’ (audio)
Improv Exchange (US) by Leander Young - podcast
Dutch Text Press
Jazznu (NL) by Rinus van der Heijden
Heaven Magazine (NL) by Eric van Domburg Scipio
Jazzflits (NL) by Hans Invernizzi - p.12
German Text Press
JAZZ’N’MORE (CH) by Christof Thurnherr - p.38
Fifteen Questions (DE) by Tobias Fischer
CONCERTO-Magazin (AT) by Herbert Höpfl - p.53
Other Press
PJ portrait in jazz (JP) by Hiroki Sugita
Culture Jazz (FR) by Yves Dorison
Nettavisen Nyheter (NO) by Tor Hammerø
“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, UK
“Ich brauche das Kribbeln. Vielleicht auch die latente Unsicherheit.”
Gabriela Martina
