‘Bridge To Infinity’ is the recording debut of Karina Corradini, a very talented and versatile singer who is equally skilled at straight ahead jazz, ballads, boleros and Latin American classics. Her beautiful tone, powerful voice, highly appealing jazz phrasing, ability to scat at even the fastest tempos, and warmth when caressing ballads make her one of the most promising singers on the jazz and Latin jazz scenes today.

Karina Corradini was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a neighborhood by the La Plata River, in San Isidro, one hour away from downtown Buenos Aires. She started out with conventional tastes in music, enjoying the Beatles and the Bee Gees before she discovered Brazilian music. “I started to pay attention to what was called ‘Tropicalismo’ and was crazy for Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa. A bit later I discovered my all-time favorite, Elis Regina. I also really liked Nat King Cole, with his sweet American accent as he sang Latino tunes. When I was 15 years old, I met a group of young musicians who introduced me to jazz through Pat Metheny. I also listened to Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin, and Al DiMeola and was very much into Egberto Gismonti and Lyle Mays as well. But then, after discovering the duets of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, I realized that that was the music I wanted to sing, and if I only could sing a little like Ella, my purpose in life would be totally fulfilled.”

She began singing professionally when she was 18, leading her own jazz sextet, ‘Karina Corradini and the Summer Band,’ which performed at the beach, bars and restaurants during the summer. When the summer season ended, she sang on Corrientes Avenue in Buenos Aires, including a twice a week engagement for two years that often ended up as a jam session with veteran musicians. Karina worked at many venues (including the Teatro Coliseo, Jazz Club de la Plaza, the Thelonious Bar and Clasica y Moderna), and also twice toured Southern Brazil with her group. By the time she decided to move to the United States in 1999, she was among the busiest jazz singers in Buenos Aires. Even now, when she returns to Argentina each year to visit family, she is always welcomed to perform at major jazz clubs.

“I moved to Los Angeles to learn Ella Fitzgerald’s language, and to study music in the land of jazz.” Karina attended Rhiannon’s workshop three times, seminars by Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany, and studied music at Los Angeles City College and art El Camino College. After performing with a rhythm and blues band for a year, she formed her own jazz group and has since performed at a countless number of clubs, restaurants, concerts and festivals, mostly in Southern California.

The story behind the release of ‘Bridge To Infinity’ includes a lot of highs and lows for the singer. The first high, no doubt, was “One of the first people who I mentioned my idea to was my dear friend Christian McBride. He not only got excited for me but also wanted to be part of the project!” The great bassist—who would become the album’s producer and main arranger—was not immediately available, so Karina recorded six songs on a demo with pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, bassist Rene Camacho and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. She used the arrangements of Eric Bulling—who had been the writer for the Ella Fitzgerald album Ella Abraça Jobim. The results were so rewarding that those performances are also included on the CD. When Corradini and McBride finally got together in the studio with tenor and alto saxophonist Zane Musa, trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, and percussionist Munyungo Jackson, the other nine songs were completed in just two days. “It felt like a big party and was fun all of the time. All of those musicians are incredibly talented. But just as important to me, all of them have warmth, are non-judgmental, have an open minded vibe, and have a great deal of humanity.”

The wide-ranging program includes swinging standards (“You Turned The Tables On Me,” “Until I Met You,” and “Lover Come Back To Me”), boleros (“What A Difference A Day Makes” and “Tu Mi Delirio”), a tribute to Elis Regina (“Cai Dento”), bossa-novas (“Doralice” and “Voce E Eu”), and romantic ballads (“I Could Have Told You” and “If You Went Away”). Karina had one of her mentors, pianist Howlett “Smitty” Smith, guest on his original “When The Time Is Right,” and guitarist Barry Zweig is on two numbers including the uptempo “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key.” Throughout the set, Karina’s singing is both inventive and beautiful while Zane Musa’s contributions consistently uplift the music.

“2018 is finally my year. I cannot believe that the project is finished and now everyone can hear it. I hope listeners really enjoy it. It is dedicated to the genius of Zane Musa.” While Karina recorded a demo with the Tom Garvin Trio in 2001 (which made it possible for her to be hired for many jobs) and an unreleased CD in 2005 that included her good friend the late bassist Jorge Pasquali, ‘Bridge To Infinity’ is her first recording to be released to the general public. Finally listeners who live far beyond Southern California will get to appreciate her wonderful voice, musical talents and ability to make every song sound as if it was written for her.

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‘Bridge To Infinity’ is the recording debut of Karina Corradini, a very talented and versatile singer who is equally skilled at straight ahead jazz, ballads, boleros and Latin American classics. Her beautiful tone, powerful voice, highly appealing jazz phrasing, ability to scat at even the fastest tempos, and warmth when caressing ballads make her one of the most promising singers on the jazz and Latin jazz scenes today.

Karina Corradini was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She began singing professionally at age 18, leading her own jazz sextet to perform at summer beach bars and restaurants. After that summer, she sang on Corrientes Avenue in Buenos Aires, including a twice a week engagement for two years that often included a jam session with veteran musicians. Karina worked various venues (including the Teatro Coliseo, Jazz Club de la Plaza, the Thelonious Bar and Clasica y Moderna) and twice toured Southern Brazil with her group.

At the time she moved to the United States in 1999, she was among the busiest jazz singers working in Buenos Aires. Even now, when she returns to Argentina each year to visit family, she is always welcomed to perform at major jazz clubs in Buenos Aires.

“I moved to Los Angeles to learn Ella Fitzgerald’s language, and to study music in the land of jazz.” Karina attended Rhiannon’s workshop three times, seminars by Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany, and studied music at Los Angeles City College and art at El Camino College. After performing with a rhythm and blues band for a year, she formed her own jazz group and has since performed at a countless number of clubs, restaurants, concerts and festivals, mostly in Southern California.

For making her first CD, ‘Bridge To Infinity,’ includes many highs and lows for the singer. The first high, no doubt, was “One of the first people who I mentioned my idea to was my dear friend Christian McBride. He not only got excited for me but also wanted to be part of the project!” In fact, the great bassist, would become the album’s producer and main arranger.

However, with Christian’s busy schedule, he was not immediately available. So Karina recorded six songs on a demo with pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, bassist Rene Camacho and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. Using arrangements of Eric Bulling—who had been the writer for the Ella Fitzgerald album Ella Abraça Jobim—the results were so rewarding that those performances are also included on the CD. When Corradini and McBride finally got together in the studio with tenor and alto saxophonist Zane Musa, trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, and percussionist Munyungo Jackson, the other nine songs were completed in only two days.

The wide-ranging program includes swinging standards, boleros, a tribute to Elis Regina, bossa-novas, and romantic ballads. Also included is one original from her mentor, pianist Howlett “Smitty” Smith. Karina’s singing is both inventive and beautiful, while Zane Musa’s contributions consistently uplift the music.

‘Bridge To Infinity’ is her first recording to be released to the general public. Finally listeners who live far beyond Southern California will have the chance to appreciate her wonderful voice, musical talents and ability to make every song sound as if it was written for her.

Download bio in PDF format

Karina Corradini is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she began singing professionally at the age of 18, leading her own jazz sextet. She has played with many prominent jazz musicians of Argentina. Her repertoire was based mostly in jazz standards and latin jazz. Karina has performed in some of the more prestigious jazz clubs and theaters of Buenos Aires for more than 15 years before she moved to the US, and she still remains performing the biggest jazz venues in Argentina twice a year. (Teatro Coliseo, Jazz Club de la Plaza, Thelonious Bar, Virasoro, Notorious, Bebop Club, Clasica y Moderna, etc.). She toured to Southern Brazil on two occasions, performing Brazilian music with her own quintet in bars and clubs in the main area of Camboriu and in Florianopolis having great success in 1994 and 1995. In 2015 Karina performed at La Zorra y El Cuervo, one of the most prestigious jazz venues in Havana Cuba, with pianist extraordinaire, Dayramir Gonzalez Vicet. Karina´s music is in rotating playlist on all the jazz radios in her country since her debut album in 2019.

In 1999, Karina relocated to Los Angeles to study Music and English. She played with a Rhythm and Blues band for the first year, performing in venues such as Taix French restaurant, Encounter at LAX and Fais Do Do, to name a few. Karina then moved on to play with her own jazz group in various restaurants and jazz clubs, such as Rio Restaurant in Burbank, Bamboo in Culver City, Atlas Supper Club, Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, Fonda Del Rey in Marina Del Rey, Carson Summer jazz Concert Series, Harlem Renaissance Festival in New York, Holly Street Bar and Grill in Pasadena, Café Metropol in Little Tokyo, Oyster House in Studio City, Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill, The Blue Whale, The World Stage, Fedora Bar, Barbara Morrison PAC, Collage: “A place for art” in San Pedro, etc.

Karina´s live performances include some of the finest jazz musicians in town, such as, Mahesh Balasooriya, Rene Camacho, Aaron Serfaty, John Belzaguy, and John B. Williams, Jimmy Branly, Mark Massey, Rickey Woodard, Munyungo Jackson, Nolan Shaheed, Roy McCurdy, and many more.

Karina has released her first album “Bridge to Infinity”, a Tribute to Zane Musa in 2019. The CD includes the extraordinaire bassist, Christian McBride as musical producer, player and arranger and many more top of the line jazzmen.

The album received excellent reviews and it is being play in many radios in The United States and around the world, including an excellent DownBeat Magazine review with 3.5 stars.

 

Contact Karina at: (310) 428-3215

E-mail: [email protected]

Wabe Page: www.karinacorradini.com

Listen to Bridge to Infinity: https://karinacorradini.hearnow.com

 

Quotes

 

" While the singer leaves plenty of room for the backing band to stretch out, it’s her vocal presence that captures listeners’ attention. The set closes with a wild, double-time reading of “Lover, Come Back to Me,” McBride and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith sending the beat into overdrive. Corradini’s vocals swing just as hard, breaking the melody into staccato fragments that match Zane Musa’s blazing saxophone solo with their animated power". —j.poet

DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE, JULY 2019.

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"A very talented and versatile singer, Karina Corradini is making her long overdue recording debut on Bridge to Infinity, Tribute to Zane Musa. The colorful program introduces Karina as an inventive vocalist who is equal skilled at swinging jazz ballads, boleros and Latin American classics".

Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books.

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"When Karina Corradini settles down to deliver the beautiful ballad, “If You Went Away,” her delivery makes me want to fall in love again”.

“This is an elegant, sincere vocalist who knows how to sell lyrics and deliver them with the tone and emotional fortitude that keeps an audience engaged and captivated".

Vocalist, and jazz journalist, Dee Dee McNeil.

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"While Flora Purim is from Brazil, I cannot resist a favorable comparison to Flora for Karina Corradini. Karina exudes similar strength, restrained use of vibrato, supple phrasing, well-considered risks and natural sense of swing".

WEMU's jazz radio programmer of 30 years, Linda Yohn

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"Singer Karina Corradini delivers an impressive debut recording with Bridge to Infinity".

JazzPage.com

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"Rich voiced Karina Corradini gives a heartfelt tribute to the spirit and heart of saxist Zane Musa. She swings and saunters with engaging ease".

George W Harris. Jazz Weekly