Roberta Gambarini

Roberta Gambarini is a jazz singer from Italy.

Roberta Gambarini
Photo by Ed Newman
Photo by Ed Newman
Background information
Born1964
Turin, Italy
OriginNew York City
GenresJazz, vocal jazz
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1990s–present
LabelsEmArcy

Early life

Gambarini was born in Turin, Italy, where she attended jazz concerts, clubs, and festivals with her parents. Her father played the saxophone, and she grew up hearing jazz in the house, and learning by listening to records. Her first instrument was clarinet when she was 12, then piano. When she was 18, she moved to Milan to pursue a career as a vocalist. In Milan she worked in radio and television without making progress on her ambition.[1][2]

Musical career

Gambarini moved to the U.S. in 1998 and won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. A few weeks after her arrival in America, she entered the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition and came in third behind Teri Thornton and Jane Monheit. She was invited to sing in New York City, where she met Benny Carter and James Moody. Moody became her teacher, mentor, and friend.[1]

In 2004, she started touring with the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band, performing with James Moody, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Paquito d'Rivera, and Roy Hargrove. From 2006 to 2007 she toured with her own trio, as well as the Hank Jones trio. She sang at the premiere of "Cannery Row Suite", a piece by Dave Brubeck commissioned for the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Her debut album Easy to Love (Groovin' High, 2006) was nominated for a Grammy Award.

You Are There was a collaboration with Hank Jones.

Her album So in Love was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[2]

Awards

Discography
  • Apreslude with Antonio Scarano (Splasch, 1991)
  • Easy to Love (Groovin' High, 2006)
  • You Are There with Hank Jones (EmArcy, 2007) – recorded in 2005
  • So in Love with James Moody, Roy Hargrove (EmArcy, 2009)
  • The Shadow of Your Smile: Homage to Japan (Groovin' High, 2013)
  • Connecting Spirits: Roberta Gambarini Sings the Jimmy Heath Songbook (Groovin' High, 2015)
  • Dedications: Roberta Gambarini Honors Ella, Sarah & Carmen (Groovin' High, 2019)

As guest

References
  1. Loudon, Christopher. "JazRoberta Gambarini: Magnifico!" (22 November 2010). Jazz Times. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  2. "Roberta Gambarini On Piano Jazz". NPR.org. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
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