Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians
Tranchina, Gabriele (Diehl)
Tranchina, Gabriele (Diehl), singer; b. Darmstadt, Germany, She grew up in Gros-Gerau, which is near Darmstadt.
She studied with Ms Bernardt-Klein voice educator at J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/M; Jeannie Lovetri, voice coach (from 1997 until now); from 1996-1997, Dominique Eade;, from 1991-1992 Connie Crothers (Lennie Tristano technique); from 1988-1989 Bette Shirley; and from 1995 until now Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan. She's also studied on and off with Nancy Marano from 1998 on. She's also studied dance. She holds a degree in Music and Physical Education (BFA) from J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/M., Germany. Her majors were Music and Physical Education. Since fall of 1997 she started to teach a music and movement program for Infants and Toddlers called Music Together and runs her own locations in Morningside Heights and Harlem. She holds the certification level 1 for this program.
By the age of 20, Tranchina had traveled throughout Europe and spent a year touring India, Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. She pursued a career as a dancer and arrived in New York City to further her studies. Enrolled as a foreign student at Peridance and then the Broadway Dance Center/Ballet Arts (1988-1993), Tranchina danced for Ned Williams William Adair, Igal Perri and several other up-and-coming choreographers. Although an injury caused her to retire in 1993, New York and its music scene would not let her go. She left her native Germany in 1988.
She's performed at Birdland, the Blue Note, Metronome, the New Yorker Club, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Academy Museum, among others. For a time, she hosted the Squire's popular open mic night. Her versatility with languages - she is tri-lingual and sings in English, German and French as well as Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish - has made her an asset to tour operators and hotels. She has performed for special events at New York's Marriott Marquis, Rockefeller Center's Sea Grill, and on Spirit Cruises. Her husband, the pianist Joe Vincent Trachina, often accompanies her.
In addition to her busy schedule in the Tri-State area, Gabriele has won praise in her native Germany for appearances at the Hessen Jazzfest, Jazzfest Morfelden-Walldorf, the Mainz Arts and Crafts Festival, as well as Darmstadt's Heinerfest and Hochzeitsturmfest. That tiny city, known as a center of German jazz, also boasts numerous clubs: Tranchina has played its prestigious Achteckiges Haus, Oktave Jazzclub, and Cafe KUK. Renowned composer/big band leader Connie Scheffel chose Tranchina to record a number of her works. Berlitz's Rush Hour German - a boy-meets-girl, musical theater adventure that departs from standard format language tapes - also features Tranchina's voice.
She is one of the featured artists at the Brotherhood Jazz and Wine Fest for the past two years.
Recordings:
The Old Country (2002)
As sideperson:
Conny Scheffel: I love New York; Berlitz: Rush Hour German (2001), Rush Hour English (2002)
Bibliography:
Works about Tranchina:"Mark Murphy: Workshops Without Water Wings" Jazz Times Educational Supplement, 2002).
Contact information:
Gabriele Tranchina
Sol La Ti Music, Inc.
58 Indian Trail North
Greenwood Lake, NY 10925
Tel: (212) 592-4627
email: gabitranchina@mindspring.com
www.sollatimusic.com
