Articles

Roberta Gambarini and Convergence

by Geoff Anderson
February 17, 2010

Roberta Gambarini and Convergence Dazzle Nightclub Denver, CO Februay 6, 2010 (First Set)

Roberta Gambarini played Denver last year with a piano trio. She returned in early February this year for a three night stand with double the support, backed this time by the six piece Convergence. Gambarini can carry a show with minimal backing, but the high powered Convergence added considerable texture, variety and plain old fun.

Gambarini had just left ...

Roberta Gambarini: Learning to Love Jazz

by Samuel Chell
November 3, 2009

Not long ago a veteran Chicago jazz disc jockey played a track from a female vocalist's new CD only after complaining on the air about the seemingly unending stream of new recordings by female singers sent to his notice each week. The exception to his policy not to play them was due, he explained, to the sender's being a close friend and loyal listener of the show.

From the evidence, the radio announcer's observations about the number of ...

Roberta Gambarini: Making Listeners Fall 'So In Love'

by R.J. DeLuke
October 12, 2009

It's been an out-of-the-ordinary career trip for Roberta Gambarini--a trip that's seen her go from a young girl in Italy, scatting along with records by American singers Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, to struggling to get singing gigs in her native land, to grabbing an opportunity to come to the United States, to gaining recognition by respected elders like Benny Carter, James Moody, Clark Terry and nonagenarian pianist Hank Jones, who has proclaimed her “the best jazz singer to emerge ...

Roberta Gambarini: So In Love

by C. Michael Bailey
August 28, 2009

In his book The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide, music writer Scott Yanow presents a list of the 30 most important jazz singers. One name most likely to join that group, Yanow believes, is that of Roberta Gambarini. Very quickly, this talented Italian singer has established herself as an artist to be considered seriously in the same manner that Anthony Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett, is considered.

Born in Torino, Italy, Gambarini came to the United States in 1998 ...

Roberta Gambarini at Dazzle's, Denver

by Geoff Anderson
July 3, 2009

Roberta Gambarini Dazzle Nightclub Denver, Colorado June 19, 2009

The really great ones make it sound easy: like walking down the street, nothing to it. That applies to instrumentalists as well as singers. Vocalist Roberta Gambarini unequivocally falls into that category. Friday night at Dazzle, Gambarini showed why she's garnering increased attention in the jazz world and why many people are placing her in the very top rankings of female jazz vocalists. ...

Roberta Gambarini: You Are There & Easy to Love

by Samuel Chell
March 29, 2009

An Italian vocalist with an elegant and insightful command of the Great American Songbook, Roberta Gambarini's You Are There (Emarcy, 2008) and Easy To Love (Kindred Rhythm, 2006) are treasures waiting for those who've learnt how to listen. Roberta Gambarini You Are ThereEmarcy 2008

Start with a phenomenally gifted, rapidly ascending vocalist of the same heritage as Enrico Caruso and Frank Sinatra, add as the sole pianist the musician who ...

Roberta Gambarini: You Are There

by Suzanne Lorge
February 12, 2008

Grammy-nominated vocalist Roberta Gambarini has been working with pianist Hank Jones since 2001, when the pair first met and performed together at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. Since then she's toured the world with Jones and his sidemen, George Mraz on bass and Willie Jones III on drums.

Live performance on the road and in concert was the only preparation Gambarini and Jones used in recording their first album together as a duo, ...