Faith Gibson
To be updated about concerts, etc.:
Bio
“Though Faith Gibson has plenty of chops, it's her attitude that drew me in. There's a sincerity in her voice that puts the ears at ease. She's the ‘jazz singer next door.’” --Mark Saleski, www.jazz.com
U.S. jazz vocalist Faith Gibson weaves subtle humor into her interpretations of standards and original jazz tunes, separating her from the pack with a sound that’s ideal for listeners who want “talent without all the baggage.” Gibson has been described as “ultra-cool but totally unpretentious,” and her latest release Big Moon as “one of 2009's best surprises.”
Faith Gibson began her career as a jazz vocalist at the 2003 Glasgow Jazz Festival following her attendance of a Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop, which she left, as she said in an interview, “knowing I was a jazz singer.” Yet, Gibson was a late discoverer of both jazz and the stage.
The Pittsburgh native moved to Germany after college to continue her studies and ended up staying. She had grown up within a family of professional musicians, played piano and flute as a child, and sang in school and college choruses and church choirs as well as smaller vocal ensembles, “but soloing always made me so frightened that I never considered a singing career except in my daydreams,” as she confided in another interview. But, in her search for a mode of expression, jazz ultimately seduced her. “I felt I had been set free. And it’s been jazz and only jazz ever since for me.” The joy of improvisation and freedom to use her natural voice gave her the confidence to appear as soloist and leader on stage and to record her first CD, You Don’t Know Me, in 2004.
A few years later she was writing her own compositions and operating the internet radio station, Blossom’s Vocal Jazz on live365.com for listeners around the world. Faith’s second, much awaited album of mostly original songs, Big Moon, was released in 2009 and is still being played on jazz radio stations around the globe.
Faith Gibson performs regularly in Berlin, Bonn, and Brussels and is at home in Germany and New York City.
Calendar
Past shows:
Contact
To contact Faith, write to: faith<at>faithgibson.com
Links
All About Jazz |
|
 |
|
CDs
|
Big Moon (2009) Faith Gibson – vocals Cover illustrations & design: Paul Hoppe |
You Don't Know Me (2004) Faith Gibson - vocals |
Two new singles out now!
Faith met at a friend’s home studio one sunny October afternoon in Berlin with pianist Claus-Dieter Bandorf, bassist Lars Gühlcke and drummer Matthias Klein to record a few tracks for a demo. Five years later, two of these are now being released as single MP3 downloads by her label Capricopia. The Arlen/Koehler tune “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” is part of Gibson’s regular performance repertoire. “Just One of Those Things” by Cole Porter is given an original twist by the Berlin quartet.
Reviews of BIG MOON (Capricopia, 2009)
Sometimes you just know. It takes two or three tunes to verify it, but as the well-written originals continue, one can distinguish quality song writing. Faith Gibson, a new name to me, contributes a few tunes here and turns other selections over to very hip wordsmith Christopher Morse. His melodies, along with those of others here, are fresh and invigorating. And Ms. Gibson interprets these tunes in an ultra-cool but totally unpretentious manner that she’s seemingly perfect for the task. Gibson chooses a small jazz group, all unknown names to me, to provide ideal, understated backup. The two standards on the disc are also performed with pizzaz. Gibson isn’t going to spin your head around with show biz shtick. Instead there’s a touch of Meredith d’Ambrosio or Lorraine Feather here and there. In any case, I really liked her approach and wouldn’t mind hearing more from her.
--George Fendel - Jazzscene Magazine - Jazz Society of Oregon
Faith's jazz vocal style is definitely cool... 13 songs plus a bonus track make for just over 55 minutes of very pleasant music, & several cuts you'll fall in love with, no doubt in my mind. The cast of players is far too large to list here, but the band behind her is absolutely "in the jazz zone", & clearly understand that the performance is in support of her groovin' & intimate expressions! Excellent recording quality throughout, a CD you'll be coming back to more than once. Faith makes her ownership of these romantic ballads come across without straining in any particular direction; that's especially true on those she penned herself, such as "What Women Want" & "Be a Man, Baby"... in fact, the latter is my favorite track - it has just the right energy quotient & her sense of humor shines right on through - a truly cute tune with little lyrical nuances that will have you ROFL, to be sure! Those who are in love with the blues will find "Too Darn Blue" very attractive as well - she digs right down to the soul for this one. I like this album a lot, & give it an easy HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners who want talent without all the baggage! Get more information at www.faithgibson.com
-- Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj - Improvijazzation Nation - Issue #94 - Zine site: http://zzaj.freehostia.com/
Faith has done her homework and is a savvy vocal stylist. "Big Moon" is one of 2009's best surprises!
--Mike Reisz, WDPS Dayton, Ohio
Faith sings a combination of originals, several songs written by Christopher Morse and a couple of standards. She moved to Germany to record this project and employed local talent to help. Gibson manages to infuse an element of fun into her music differentiating her from the pack. Her vocal style is more of a spoken art form that is complemented by a fine team of musicians including Wolfgang Köhler (p), Lars Gühlcke (b), Felix Astor (d) an Jo Gehlmann (g). "Be A Man Baby" and "What Women Want" are signature songs that resonate in a very good set.
-- D. Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz Newsletter, http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com
Review of "Be a Man, Baby"
Rating: 87/100 (Very good. Substantive work deserving a listeners’ attention)
Now we're talkin'! I love a sultry jazz tune as much as the next guy, but sometimes it's a joy to listen to a vocalist take a more direct and pragmatic route to pleasure. The song's protagonist is looking for a man who doesn't need to be babied. Or, in Gibson's words, “man enough to love a woman built for speed.”
She knows what she wants, and the music is equally no-nonsense. Saxophonist Gregoire Peters and guitarist Jo Gehlmann lay down a snappy unison riff as a retort to the leader's statements. Underneath all of this the rhythm section swings with grace and muscle.
Though Faith Gibson has plenty of chops, it's her attitude that drew me in. There's a sincerity in her voice that puts the ears at ease. She's the “jazz singer next door.” How this fits in with the “built for speed” thing is a topic for another review.
--Mark Saleski. www.jazz.com
A Big Moon with Five Stars
Tired of thinking wistfully that it's a pity no one sings 'em like Ella or Lena anymore? Then relief is at hand in the shape of Faith Gibson. She may be a small star on a small label right now but if there is any justice Big Moon will make Faith a Big Star.
Stop kicking the cat at the end of a hard day and kick off your shoes, pour a red wine, pull up a comfy chair and listen. Faith's style is modern without losing a sense of the traditional. My favourite here is 'That's Right, It Was You' which is a real tear-jerker, but every track here sounds like it was pulled from the Great American Songbook -- no mean feat when you consider most of the CD is new material, including Faith's own composition, the light-hearted admonition to 'Be a Man, Baby', that perfectly embodies her great mix of contemporary lyrical and traditional jazz styles.
The band here also deserves a pat on the back for their laid back but classy underpinning of one of the best new jazz vocalists around. - recommended!
--John Hurd, Music Editor - Bonn English Network
It's truly a pleasure to feature your recording - every cut is a treasure, and the album is a joy! I am certainly looking forward to further recordings from you. Wishing you well-deserved success,
--John Segers, Music Director WUCF-FM 89.9 "Jazz and More"
I love the Faith Gibson CD! Great voice and a very good group of jazz musicians in the backing group. Lovely and nice jazz content!
--Peter Kuller, Radio Adelaide - Adelaide, Australia
Sometimes you don’t know if trying to say the right thing will come out being the wrong thing. The early moves of this set show Gibson to be someone that learned her Blossom Dearie lessons well and I was trying to figure out how to say it in a clever way. Some people get their nose out of joint when you make comparisons, you know how it is. So, I’m reading the bio sheet and I see Gibson has her own net radio station called, badabing--- Blossom’s Vocal Jazz! Gotta listen to those inner voices. Gibson’s an up and comer, still studying with left of center teachers and using interpretive skills as much as vocal skills to craft one of those familiar yet different experiences. A jazz vocalist more for today than grandpa consumption, she’s mastered the sound you would hear in a contemporary, left leaning jazz performance space.
--Chris Spector, Midwest Record
[Big Moon] delivers an hour of blessed acoustic relief. It’s Faith Gibson’s second release and finds her singing three songs of her own ... Ms. G. ... shows a certain ironic wit when she complains, “I’ve had it up to here / with boys who never grew up / Be a man, baby / Sign the prenup!” Her “[What] Women Want” is a very attractive ballad, with a subtly shaded vocal most tastefully enhanced by Jo Gehlmann’s guitar and Lars Gühlcke’s bass. ... The entire band under the direction of pianist Köhler is steady and supportive, with altoist Gregoire Peters [making] his most telling statement on “[No Time for the] Blues,” ... --Alan Bargebuhr, Cadence Magazine 2010. www.cadencebuilding.com ph: 315-287-2852.
Reviews of YOU DON'T KNOW ME (Juke Joint, 2004)
Faith Gibson's CD has a wonderful mix of ten songs in the blues tradition. "Honeysuckle Rose" (Waller/Razaf) possesses a wonderful upbeat vocal. She's everywhere in a take that never lets up. Even the title song (Walker/Arnold), a country hit, is like putty in her hands as a fine bluesy vocal. The Kingston Trio's "Scotch and Soda" (Guard) is a stand out. Faith really turns it on here. She gives forth with a mouth watering sexy vocal. I also adored "Don’t Like Goodbyes" (Arlen/Capote). In over six minutes Ms. Gibson brings forth a most mellow whispery voice to this remarkable ballad. Finally Faith really sings out on "'Round Midnight" (Williams/Monk/Hanighen). She's really aided here by J.P. Webber on guitars and other strings.
-- Dan Singer, IN TUNE INTERNATIONAL, January 2010, No. 215
...Faith Gibson loves the songs she sings more than she loves the sound of her own voice. This woman can belt with the best of 'em and has plenty of vocal dexterity, but it’s her subtlety, restraint, and quiet humor, along with a flawless instinct for what's needed where and when, that make standards like Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" and Dave Guard's "Scotch & Soda" feel fresh and surprising. The latter tune is even more surprising, thanks to J. P. Weber's Delta blues guitar intro and interludes, which segue smoothly into rich jazz chords to accompany the vocal.
Faith's takes on two of the jazziest pop/rock tunes ever written, Van Morrison's "Moondance" and Randy Bachman's "Undun" (recorded long before Kurt Elling thought to do it) are, at first, both looser and less urgent than the originals. The intensity builds, not with instrumental insistence or vocal acrobatics, but through Faith's simple, clear telling of, and growing involvement in, the story of each song.
You Don't Know Me is an exquisite recording. It opened my eyes and ears to Faith's unique and wonderful talents, and it continues to deliver pleasure and surprises after countless spins...
--Christopher Morse, songwriter
Faith Gibson delivers a heartfelt interpretation of complicated jazz favorites like “Honeysuckle Rose” or “’Round Midnight” with stunning sensibility, and the title song, the eternal “You Don’t Know Me”, should be already considered a masterpiece in her voice, capable of provoking the flapping of delicate butterfly wings in your stomach. ... Faith Gibson gave the band as much space as they wanted to populate with their instruments, and the result is simply delicious. This is a marvelous first album.
--Esther Berlanga-Ryan, broadcaster
A lively collection of blues-tinged jazz vocals make this an entertaining and enjoyable listening experience. Every song is a delight. … "Undun" showcases the talents of gifted pianist Marcus Schinkel, one of the best jazz pianists to come down the pike in a long while. … Take a listen to "Scotch and Soda" and enjoy the play and joy of the musicians working together with the vocalist in a fine rendition of this song. Enjoyable. Great listening entertainment! Every performance is topnotch!
--Lee Prosser, www.jazzreview.com
Faith Gibsons erste CD präsentiert eine versierte Sängerin mit erotischem Touch in der Stimme. In der Begleitung ... sticht der virtuose, bluesige Gitarrist J.P. Weber heraus.
--Klaus Kilian, Blues News
Press pics, links & downloads
Article: "Finding Faith" in Songwriter's Monthly, June 2010 issue
Article: Faith Gibson: Shooting for the Big Moon on All About Jazz
 |
 |
Right click to download images |
|
 |
|
Video
(Pause the player at the top of the page for a better experience!)
Capricopia
Other releases on Capricopia Records