Gabrielle Cavassa

Born in Escondido, California of Italian descent, Gabrielle Cavassa began “obsessively listening” to records from a young age. Largely self-taught, she developed a unique approach to singing that would later characterize her artistry. Cavassa received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University, but credits the Bay Area music scene for her “real education.” She moved to New Orleans in 2017, where she continued her education in local clubs.

In 2020, Cavassa independently released an eponymous debut record produced by collaborator Jamison Ross. In 2021, she was crowned a winner of the prestigious International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition. Cavassa’s feature appearance on Joshua Redman’s 2023 Blue Note album where are we prompted DownBeat to declare her “a star in the making.” Stereophile wrote that “For many, the revelation of this album will be Cavassa. Her voice gets under your skin. It is idiosyncratic, but it is trustworthy in its clarity and almost physical in its intimacy… her intuitive interpretations and riveting voice make you sit very still in your chair.”

Cavassa’s 2026 Blue Note debut Diavola was co-produced by Joshua Redman and Don Was, and features an extraordinary cast of collaborators with Jeff Parker on guitar, Larry Grenadier on bass, Brian Blade on drums, Paul Cornish on piano, and Redman on tenor saxophone.