 Gabriela Anders was born into a family of musicians. The Argentinean native studied classical guitar and piano in Buenos Aires while listening closely to her father, jazz saxophonist Jorge Anders. “There were so many influences when I was growing up, and I wanted to do something with them all. My father’s concerts and studio work certainly affected me, as did the music of Brazil— it’s so harmonically rich and so interesting melodically.” After high school, Anders decided to continue her studies in New York. After a short while, she started to do studio and club work. This work lead to two recording projects with top producer Sergio George. Through Sergio, she had the opportunity to sing for Grover Washington, Jr., Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz & DLG. Her ongoing exposure to music of various sensibilities and her innate ability to fuse styles and formats were abundantly revealed in a few demo tracks she made on the cheap. Shortly thereafter, the stunning beauty became one of the only artists ever signed to Warner Bros. from unsolicited material. Gabriela Anders' 1999 debut, WANTING is brimming with vocal subtlety; although smooth, it is anything but simple (she wrote ten of the twelve tracks). Gabriela Anders continued a journey of musical excellence and introspection with her releases, ECLECTICA, a collection of Brazilian, R&B and jazz- influenced songs and LATINA, an all Spanish adventure. Most of the songs and lyrics in "ECLECTICA are by Anders, as well as the arrangements. All songs on LATINA are composed and arranged by Anders featuring the whole spectrum of Latin rhythms. From Salsa (#2) to Bossa Nova (#3), from a romantic ballad (#4) to Afro Brazilian (#10), this collection of songs takes you all along Latin America. Anders channels her multi-cultural musical gifts into the power of love's emotions and vulnerabilities, both personal and universal, and that is the essence of her allure. |
Destined to Leave Her Mark
by Paula EdelsteinP.E.: Hi Gabriela, what a great new CD! Congratulations on Last Tango in Rio for Narada. How did the project come about?
Gabriella: I really feel very proud about this one. It started out in Buenas Aires, Argentina. I went there in November after some years of not going there. I really got inspired after going to some tango places with my brother. I really got into it even though I don’t have a tango background. It’s almost experimental in some way and I put my heart into it.
P.E.: When you finally decided on which songs would be included on the CD, why did you choose these particular jazz standards?
Gabriella: Those are some of my favorite songs from the jazz repertoire. I have other ones but they didn’t work very well with the concept that I had. These are my favorites – but there are only four covers. When I do a cover, I want to do it in a way that is original. I could never do "God Bless The Child" better than Billie Holiday. I didn’t want to go into her territory. The producers presented these jazz songs to me so I got into them! I can’t take the credit for choosing these songs.
P.E.: Your own repertoire covers many facets of music including songs from films, R& B hits, and now with LAST TANGO IN RIO it’s mostly American jazz standards such as “You Go To My Head,” “God Bless The Child,” and “Body And Soul.” It’s obvious that by singing various genres and styles of music you stay fresh and interesting to your fans. How difficult is it to re-arrange a well-known American jazz standard so that it will appeal to a Brazilian jazz audience?
Gabriella: I hope that I’m doing something of value, something that I feel will have some interesting musical elements. I studied composition, arranging and classical music and now I realize that it is very useful. I am not trying to appeal to a Brazilian jazz audience - only trying to make a contribution to the jazz style.
P.E.: Do you sing these songs in Spanish or Portuguese when performing them outside of North America?
Gabriella: No, not the covers. I respect them and sing them in English.
P.E.: What are some of the South American and Brazilian rhythms we hear on the CD? – i.e. samba, bossa nova, baiao, etc?
Gabriella: There is of course the tango, a little bit of bossa nova, a little bit of a northern Brazilian vibe to it…but it’s all mixed with the Argentinean nostalgic sound. Check out the "Buenas Aires Mix." I mean, it’s kind of modern too. There’s a whole thing going on with sounds, like a mixture…there’s also some samba rhythms and Afro-Brazilian.
P.E.: Your father, Jorge Anders, is a jazz saxophonist and I’m sure he had a major impact on your decision to become a musician. Who were some of your other early musical influences?
Gabriella: I grew up listening to a lot of Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and many other jazz vocalists. Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard , a lot of Cuban music and Brazilian music on the radio. But the main influences were instrumentalists…they taught me how to phrase, how to sing and by listening to these musical geniuses, I put it all together.
P.E.: What do you do to keep your voice in tune, i.e., vocal exercises, diet, etc?
Gabriella: Up to recently, my formal training has been more in the writing of music … not so much as a singer. I hurt my voice a couple of years ago and then I had to take private lessons as a singer. Up to that moment, I had not had any type of serious vocal musical training. I practice the scales but at this moment I am not studying with anyone.
P.E.: Well, thankfully your voice has healed and you’re sounding wonderful on LAST TANGO IN RIO. Your composing skills on such songs as “Abracadabra,” “Embrace Me,” “All Your Love,” and “’Til The End of Time,” are excellent and so entertaining. This is a great CD Gabriela! With such talent as a songwriter, it must be challenging to find other interesting things to do. What are some of your other interests outside of music – art, poetry, film buff, business maven, etc?
Gabriella: I read a lot of history, I’m very interested in what’s happening politically with this country and I like volleyball!
P.E.: There have been several comments in the press that verify that you are the “whole package.” What do you think is your best asset when it comes to audience interaction? (This means ability to tell a musical story the audience can relate to, sex appeal, wardrobe choices etc.)
Gabriella: My wardrobe choices – it’s not! I try to do a good job, just try to give the best of me each time. I try to give a good show that contains good music. I’m constantly studying so that I keep up and not get lazy! My strength is that I am very perservering.
P.E.: Who are some of the other musicians on the recording?
Gabriella: Oh there’s Jorge Anders, Wayne Krantz, Tito Castro, Romero Lumbambo, Hector Martignon, Gabriel Rivano, Jorge Alfano, John Benitez and Donald Edwards, Olga Terlitsky, and Portinho.
P.E.: You all sound as if you had a great time making the CD! Will there be a tour in support of LAST TANGO IN RIO? If so, where can your fans find the concert schedule?
Gabriella: We’ve just finished some dates in Europe and are planning the USA tour now. The concert schedule can be found on http://www.gabrielaanders.com
P.E.: Gabriela, thank you so much for the interview. Once again, congratulations on LAST TANGO IN RIO. It’s great.
Gabriella: Thanks Paula. My pleasure.
P.E.: Keep in touch with Gabriela’s happenings at www.gabrielaanders.com
Reprinted with permission of...
