New album launch:
The Italian Cultural Institute is pleased to present “Risorgimento“, the new album by artist Romina Di Gasbarro.
Romina Di Gasbarro‘s trajectory as a singer and musician is an adventurous pilgrimage of the musical heart. Nursed on Italian music, raised on rock and soul, trained in classical guitar, initiated into jazz, studied new-music composition, and developed into an opera singer, this artist matured into a creative singer-songwriter of serious genre-bending, creative proportions. From this personal perspective, Romina looks forward to new ground with lyricism and poetry, creating her own path as a music artist beyond categories. Romina has been a regular performer in Toronto since 2004 in venues such as: Heliconian Hall, Glenn Gould Studio, Koerner Hall, Hugh’s Room, Supermarket, Wychwood Barns, Lula Lounge, The Music Gallery and many more. Music festivals include Luminato Festival, TD Downtown Jazz Festival, The CNE International Festival, Young Centre Global Cabaret Festival, NXNE, and Indie Music Week. Romina’s has shared the stage and studio with JUNO celebrated artists from both the classical and jazz worlds such as: Andrew Downing, Roberto Occhipinti, Elmer Ferrer, Christine Bougie, David Occhipinti, Julia Wedman, Aisslinn Nosky, Karen Moffatt, Carina Reeves, Larnell Lewis, Ben Grossman, Jean Martin, Barry Romberg, Blaire Mackay, and Davide Di Renzo.
RISORGIMENTO & DISCOGRAPHY
Produced by Roberto Occhipinti and released on his label, Modica Music, Risorgimento’s roster of outstanding musicians includes: Elmer Ferrer, Roberto Occhipinti, Larnell Lewis, Ben Grossman, Lucas Harris, Francesco Pellegrino, Gianluca ampanino, Tommaso Sollazzo, Mike Herriott, Drew Jureck, Rebekah Wolkstein, Shannon Knights, and Rachel Pomedli.
Risorgimento is Romina Di Gasbarro’s third release. The title takes its name from the Italian word, “resurgence” used to coin the movement that unified Italy in 1861. Based on selected Italian historical and cultural events, the music of Risorgimento takes the listener on a journey of stories traveling through time in a myriad of musical traditions and cultural references. Like chapters in a book, each song in Risorgimento leads to the next song in building on the same themes that plague our post-modern society: the pursuit and cost of freedom in the face of good and evil. The stories draw from the past but look forward to a brighter future.
Risorgimento follows Romina debut full-length CD, Poema, and debut EP, Little Rome. Romina’s recordings were made possible through the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts (Risorgimento, Little Rome) and the Ontario Arts Council (Risorgimento).
VESUVIUS ENSEMBLE
Romina is a regular guest with the critically acclaimed, Vesuvius Ensemble. The group is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Southern Italian historical folk and classical music. The group is lead by Francesco Pellegrino, lutenist Lucas Harris and ciaramella/mandolin player, Marco Cera. Other regular guests include ghironda/percussionist Ben Grossman and zampogna player, Tommaso Sollazzo. Romina collaborated as a singer and (battente) guitarist on Vesuvius Ensemble’s most recent CD, La Meglio Gioventú.