Friday, February 10, 2012

Redefining Hip

Gina Saputo
Fri. February 10
Steamers Jazz Cafe
Fullerton, CA


Gina Saputo is a vocalist, entertainer, clinician and arranger who has already established herself as one of the hippest rising headliners on the scene.

A native of Eugene, Oregon, Gina began training at the age of 8, singing with the Oregon Children’s Choir. By the age of 16 she was putting together her own groups and singing in jazz clubs, often waiting outside during breaks because she was underage.

From there, Gina attended USC’s prestigious Thornton School of Music, and was awarded the Barry Manilow Scholarship for all four years of her education. Gina studied at Jazz Aspen Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado under Christian McBride. She was interviewed by Dee Dee Bridgewater for her show JazzSet on National Public Radio.

Gina was among seven musicians chosen by Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, and Wayne Shorter to study at the Thelonius Monk Institute. During her time with the institute, she performed for the State Department in Washington, D.C., and toured Viet Nam with Herbie Hancock and Nnenna Freelon.

Her first CD, “Gina Saputo” was recorded with vocal sessions produced by Grammy award nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton, who said, “Gina has the talent as well as the passion to stretch and think outside the box.”

After two successful tours of Japan, her CD has climbed to #3 on the prestigious Swing Journal charts, and has received rave reviews.

She was a guest professor at Gwangju University in South Korea, and toured Japan a second time with Grammy nominated pianist Bill Cunliffe.

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