Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginetta Vendetta.
Hi Ginetta, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my music career in NYC where I Have lived from the age of 17 till the present where I now divide my time between there & South Florida. After leaving 2 top music schools, I moved back to Manhattan where I realized I had to pay rent & started to practice 8 hours a day to become a viable musician, able to support myself with my horn as a professional. I quickly established myself with various blues, R & B, Latin, Rock & Jazz bands, leading to many gigs, recordings, tours & More. 10 years of being a “Sideman” instilled in me the desire to lead my own band and play funky Jazz , Pop & original tunes. My first band was called Ninja, Featuring Ginetta…. It wasn’t until visiting my friend, fellow musician & Greenwich village neighbor Eric Oxendine, (who played with Jimi Hendrix & Van Morrison)) that the name Ginetta’s Vendetta Came about! He, (being of Cherokee descent) bestowed the name upon me in what I liken to a ceremonial Naming ceremony! My debut performance with my 7 piece band; Ginetta’s Vendetta was at The NYRican Poet’s Cafe on the lower east side. Larger gigs, bigger venues, tours, residencies, radio & TV appearances plus international Jazz Ambassador travels with Ginetta’s Vendetta followed. I recorded my first all original CD: “La Dolce Vita” a few years after forming the band followed by 5 more CD’s as a bandleader. “Land On My Feet”, “Little Big Horn”, “Standards”, “Pocketful of Cool” & most recently: “Fun Size”, the last 4 garnering Grammy Nods & Fabulous reviews! Interestingly, through my 30 year history of leading my band, dozens of great NYC musicians have come through and ultimately moved on to fabulous opportunities with big stars! I like to say that every NYC musician of note has come through the Ginetta’s Vendetta “University”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A professional Musician’s life is never a smooth road…. as I like to say I can be a star in one country and then I come home and cant give it away! Highs and lows are the very nature of the music business and I’ve done many tours thinking the next step will be much more notoriety or major professional acclaim, but then dry spells again manifest and you have to resume the constant hustle for more work. The actual struggles vary from losing gigs to physical challenges, (whether that be lip problems or vocal nodes,) dodgy musicians flaking out, equipment failure, promotors not paying, club owners expecting you to fill their seats, airline tickets not being paid for, clubs burning down or sinking, contracts not being honored etc. etc etc. It is a never ending battle that demands a mental fortitude & Resilience not many possess. I find that adversity creates ingenuity and as a bandleader for over 30 years that is definitely an asset!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
They call me a triple threat female powerhouse who plays pocket trumpet, sings, composes & leads her fabulous combo Ginetta’s Vendetta around the world spreading the gospel of Jazz! What sets me apart from others IS my pocket trumpet & combination of singing, playing and showmanship onstage where i am most comfortable. I am most proud of my 6 CD’s as a bandleader , composer, arranger & Producer, vocalist & pocket trumpeter plus the ability to spread happiness with my music.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I consider myself divinely Blessed & Protected and Good Luck follows me and always presents the perfect opportunity in the perfect time so that I’m able to continue my musical ministry!
Pricing:
- cds 15.00
- recording sessions 250 – 500
- concerts – 750 – 5000
- arrangments – 500 – 2,000
- production – 1 CD – 1,000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Ginettasvendetta.com
- Instagram: @Ginettasvendetta
- Facebook: facebook.com/ginettasvendetta1, Facebook.com/Ginettasilvi
- Twitter: @GinettaVendetta
- Youtube: youtube.com/ginettasvendetta
- soundcloud: soundcloud.com/Ginettasvendetta
- Other: www.MyPPK.com/get/ginettasvendetta
