Gina FERRERA (gyil, mbira, shekere, vocals, electronic drum beats, live /studio percussion, production, engineering)
Shawn Hennessey, Nick Bockrath, Tony Catastrophe,
Featured on the NEW CD "THE PHILADELPHIA GYIL FUSION PROJECT":
Adam Hershberger, Radha, Elizabeth Sayre, Adwoa Akomfoo Tacheampong, Chuckie Joseph, Abraham "Cito" Caravallo Candell, Shawn Hennessey, Venissa Santi, Dan Gorlin, Jennifer Kyker, RYAT, Pete McRae, Dave Manley, Matt Davis, Jake Morelli, Erik Lawrence, Xande Cruz, Ashley "Deekus" Tini, Jason Fratacelli, Joshua Winer, Brian Nadav, Eric Hickey, Bill Phipps, Shara Dae, Collin Mil, Geoff Thompson, Kwesi Opare
=Guest Artists: Tim Conley, Gabe
ALSO PERFORM WITH:
LEANA SONG - (Afro-Cuban Bata / Ewe drumming ensemble)
ALOKLI (Philadelphia)- Ewe Drum Ensemble
Dunya Performing Arts Company- ft. Jeannine Osayande & Alex Shaw
The Voices of Africa- (VOA)-Choral & Percussion Ensemble
Influences
Most appreciation to my teachers, mentors & friends: Valerie Naranjo (gyil, percussion), Kakraba Lobi (the late gyil master from Ghana), Bernard Woma (gyil), Dan Gorlin (Ewe music & drumming- Ghana), Jennifer Kyker (dzavadzimu mbira- Zimbabwe), Madeline Yayodele Nelson (shekere), Erik Lawrence (mentor/friend), Elizabeth Sayre (bata, afro-cuban).
Orlando Fiol, Chuckie Joseph, Andy Hurwitz
.
Special thanks to my family for all their support, especially: Michelina Cervino, Mario Cervino, Michelle Ferrera (www.wingsartphotography.org), Richard Ferrera (artist, drummer, martial artist), Cristina & Lenny Paris, Adrianna, Domenic, Marianne & Chris Masino, Giovanna and Giorgio.
Thanks for support and inspiration: Cito Caraballo Candell, Geoff Thompson, Nicole Fredricks, Noah Gest, Adam Hershberger, Elizabeth Sayre, Adwoa Taechempong, Venissa Santi, Kristie Borchick, Alex Hochner, Valerie Frossard for portraits and photos
(www.valeriefrossard.com), The Philadelphia Experiment, Rope a Dope Record Label
Sounds Like
Buy CD's:
www.ropeadope.com
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ginaferrera
www.ginaferrera.com
www.facebook.com/ginaferrera
Other Projects:
www.leanasong.com
www.alokli.com
www.voicesofafrica.net
buy here:
Children Go Round- Dee Dee Bridgewater- DJ King Britt REMIX (played gyil on the track)
WWW.FIVESIXMEDIA.COM
About Gina Ferrera &The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project
Bio:
Philadelphia is a long way from Ghana, and certainly not the first place you’d look for an artist whose specialty is the gyil—pronounced jeel—an acoustic, wooden mallet instrument in the xylophone family that originated in the West African tri-border region of Ghana, Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire.
But Philadelphia is where Gina Ferrera currently resides and where she recorded her latest album, appropriately titled Gina Ferrera & The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project. Breathtaking in its sonic range and richly evocative in content, the recording seamlessly bridges the ancient and the contemporary, unfolding a world of contrasts and textures that reveals multiple new layers with each listening.
Just how did an Italian-American woman originally from New Jersey find her way to this relatively obscure instrument, even spending considerable time in Africa studying with the masters? The story begins at age 10. Gina’s mother, a hard-working Italian immigrant, inspired her daughter’s enthusiasm for culture, while her father, who passed away when Gina was 17, guided her toward drumming.
When she was 20, Ferrera’s seeking spirit led her to the gyil via Valerie Naranjo, a master percussionist. Naranjo mentored Ferrera for many years, during which time Gina immersed herself in the instrument’s cultural significance as well as its artistic properties. She traveled to Ghana for the first of two times, where she studied with gyil masters Kakraba Lobi and Bernard Woma. Ferrera has also absorbed the music of Cuba, Nigeria, Brazil and Zimbabwe, and her other instruments include bata drums, drum-set, shekere, conga, Ewe drums and Shona Dzavadzimu mbira.
In 2006, Ferrera relocated to Philadelphia to avail herself of the city’s bustling underground world music community. The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project came about organically. The 10 songs collected on the album are markedly diverse. Each is a sonic journey, replete with personal and spiritual meanings, specific themes, hidden sound textures, and laced with experimental recording effects and downbeat tempos. Ferrera also draws from the visual arts to create sonic landscapes, from color, textures, qualities of spice and flavors in sound.
Several songs on the album are inspired by traditional music, with lyrics and vocals provided by Ferrera, then transposed into modernity with the use of today’s state-of-the-art recording tools. In addition to Ferrera’s own vocals, a number of guest singers and musicians are featured on the album. A Gina Ferrera gig might include the artist performing solo or accompanied by experimental players, percussionists and vocalists, using live electronics and effects or a full band consisting of drums, guitars, bass, horns and a battery of percussion.
Gina Ferrera & the Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project is a stimulating experience that crosses the spiritual with the sensual and the pure essence of sound. It’s at once a highly intimate statement yet one that crashes through boundaries and speaks to everyone whose path it crosses.
“Each song on this album is like its own creature that I helped transfer from another dimension to an audio dimension,” says Ferrera. “I hope that it speaks for itself.” It not only speaks for itself—it speaks for and to an entire planet, and for the eons.
Gina Ferrera &The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project's Friend Space (Top 39)
Gina Ferrera &The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project has 1335 friends.
Hi! were playing at the World Cafe Live in Philly , on Saturday October 24 @ 10 pm.Local Music needs support and we need yours :) come on out and jam with us !!!!!!! Its a great place to have dinner and drinks and dance ! Save the date Much love , BOSU http://www.worldcafelive.com.
Hey Gina. I just wanted to stop by and show your page some love. very much liking the music. especially organic spinning sphere and IN and Out. i look forward to seeing you perform. peace. -Jake
thanks for the req...this is beautiful stuff and i hope our paths cross soon...keep me posted!
if at swarthmore you should try (if you haven't already done so) to hook up with hans lüdemann, the german pianist who is there for this school year. i know him from cote d'ivoire and he has a really good trio with my old friend aly keita, a fantastic balafonist, and they'll play @ swarthmore on oct. 30. wish i could be there.
Heyhey, we are coming back to philly to rock this Sunday in the Prog Rock Series at NorthStar Bar... We start at 8pm Sharp. With Mandrake Project and Imbala. This will be our first show in philly with our new cd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hope to see you there
Gina I love your music. I look forward to exposing my friends to your blend of beats and styles. Actually have it jamming outside while we celebrate my parents' 52d Anniversary! Dad loves jazz! Peace!
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