About Me
“Music gives me the substance to be alive,
and jazz gives me the freedom to express it.†- Gina PanizalesSinging has always been a part of her for as long as she can remember.
Born and raised in Iloilo City, Philippines, her parents suggested
a career for her far removed from singing – that of an accountant.
She took a degree in Commerce major in Accounting, took an administrative job in an office, but eventually found her naturally gifted voice leading her to do part time singing. It didn’t take long before she knew it was her calling and joined a band leaving for Malaysia. Then there was no turning back.Gina, a self taught musician, was exposed to all kinds of music
at a young age and was very active in choirs, solo performances and drama/musical theater productions in school.
She started out with Top 40’s and popular songs to
earn a living but was listening to Jazz, blues, gospel and
broadway music during her spare time. She believes that the key
to a successful singer is the ability to listen to others and to yourself.
Listening is the beginning of understanding.Her performances has taken her to many parts
of Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia)
while based in Kuala Lumpur, and has traveled to
South America, Australia, Europe and the US.
One of her cherished moments was performing live at the Cotton
Club in New York with their in-house swing band.In Malaysia, she’s performed with some of KL's top notch musicians.
She was the vocalist for Asiabeat (with Lewis Pragasam), Face First
(with Greg Lyons), Aztec Jam (with Stuart Henderson), Jungle Jazz (with
Dodong Jumawan), the Solianos, and Parkroyal Jazz Combo to name a few.
She has also done guest performances for royalties, the Kuala Lumpur
City Hall Orchestra, and charity concerts.
She went to Sabah, East Malaysia in 1999, and performed with
widely acclaimed Sabah’s fingerstyle guitarist Roger Wang.Her influences include Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitgerald, Dinah Washington,
Diane Schuur, Diane Reeves, Etta James, Porter, Gershwin,
Manhattan Transfer.
She has a strong inclination to vocal groups, and Latin music having Spanish as part of her heritage, and has great respect for the music of Celia Cruz,
Gloria Estefan, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Poncho Sanchez.
Gina Panizales is currently active in the Kuala Lumpur jazz circuit with
Eye to Eye Jazz Mix and performed at the Riau Jazz Festival in 2007,
Indonesia. She has done radio appearances (recently at 90.3 FM Jazz Selecta), special events, private and corporate functions and performs at jazz joints like Avanti, Bangkok Jazz, the Top Room, No Black Tie.On April 30, 2008, Gina Panizales launched her self produced,
debut album - 'FINALLY' Gina Panizales. It's a contemporary mix of Jazz,
Latin, and R & B which includes originally penned music by Gina herself.
It's an honest reflection of her passion, inspirations and influences in music
which is is her simple way of sharing her gift of music.
