CURRENT PROJECT:
Gina FERRERA (gyil, mbira, shekere, vocals, electronic drum beats, live /studio percussion, production, engineering)
THE PHILADELPHIA GYIL FUSION PROJECT:
ft: ft. 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
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
Venissa Santi (Afro-Cuban/Rumba) www.myspace.com/venissasanti
Kokolo- (New York City based Afro-beat Band)
PREVIOUS PROJECTS:
SUNKWA: with Kofi Ameyaw (gyil, drums, percussion)
CD1."Taste of the Gyil" (original songs by me and Ameyaw)
CD2."Toast to the Gyil (A tribute to the traditional music from northwest Ghana, West Africa)
BLENDED BEAT
CD1. "Life in the Key of G": Gina (gyil, shekere, vocals), Erik Lawrence (saxophone, flute), Jason Hogue (bass), Taji Maalik (congas, percussion), Meredith Foreman (alto saxophone), Michaela Glynn (vocals)
CD2. "Blended Beat": Gina (vocals, gyil, shekere, drumset, percussion) Erik Lawrence (saxophone, flute), Ray Lugo (bass), Mike Ramsey (congas, bell), Sean Villere
(guitar)
Influences
Most appreciation to my teachers & mentors: 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 and Chuckie Joseph
.
Special thanks to my entire family for all their support: 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 special support to very special friends: Cito, Geoff Thompson, Nicole Fredricks, Noah Gest, Adam Hershberger, Elizabeth Sayre, Adwoa Taechempong, Venissa Santi, Kristie Porchnick, Alex Hochner...
Special thanks also...Valerie Frossard for portraits and photos
Check out: www.valeriefrossard.com
Sounds Like
Buy CD's:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ginaferrera
www.ginaferrera.com
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
..
Bio:
Gina Ferrera began drumming at the age of ten. While performing, teaching and pursuing a degree in video/audio production, she began focusing on ancient African music, studying gyil (an ancient mallet keyboard from northwest Ghana) & it's traditional music in NYC with master musician, Valerie Naranjo and Master Bernard Woma. Since 2000, Gina has made two research trips to Ghana for studies with gyil master Kakraba Lobi.
Additionally, Ferrera studies music from Cuba, Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana and Zimbabwe with Elizabeth Sayre, Chuckie Joseph, Orlando Fiol, Dan Gorlin and Jennifer Kyker. Her instruments include bata drums, shekere, conga, caixa snare drum, Ewe drums and Shona Dzavadzimu mbira. Gina has recorded five albums that celebrate cultural diversity. She commingles ancient instrumentation with creative expression, electronic beats, blending cultural music and collaborations with a broad range of artists. Gina has recorded and toured internationally playing drum-set, percussion and singing with Leana Song (Afro-Cuban Drum Ensemble), Alokli West African Drum & Dance Ensemble, The Voices of Africa, Dunya Performing Arts Company, Kokolo- Afrobeat, and Sunkwa.
In the spirit of bringing together global cultures, Gina Ferrera presents "The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project" as an exploration of ancient African music as a source for peace and cultural unity. The Gyil Fusion Project is a creative live-music collective and a recording/production team currently featuring thirty of Philadelphia's most talented and innovative musicians blending various styles of world fusion music. In West Africa, music and dance create a collective experience that binds community together and can serve as a model for establishing a sense of community in Western society. Gina currently teaches gyil ensemble through the Department of Music and Dance at Swarthmore. "Gina's Gyil and World Music Magic" program, founded in 2003, offers children exposure to cultural and indigenous music in schools throughout Philadelphia and at private/charter pre-schools. As an educator Gina specializes in creative dramatics, movement, music, storytelling, cultural awareness and community building. She also teaches workshops and performs at school assemblies, hospitals, colleges & universities, festivals, summer camps, after-school programs and cultural events.
Gina Ferrera &The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project's Friend Space (Top 39)
Gina Ferrera &The Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project has 1263 friends.
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!
Thank for everything! I have a bunch of great pictures of you that I'd like to share with/give you, but I'd feel slightly creepy if I had an album of pictures of just you...
...an inside look...backstage at a Kusika/Zambezi show...
...you GOTTA come check out this theater...i could totally see you performing here.. :) ..love your Ganda Yina and all your other stuff, Gina! Have a great day! Love, Satya
I just finished this video, thought you might appreciate it if you've got a minute to enjoy, hope things are going well for you -Damian: Sacred Objects - B I R T H
Online Now!
