Gina Saputo

“One of our favorite singers, and certainly one of the best jazz acts in California.”
— ARNALDO DESOUTIERO // JAZZ STATION // JAZZ, BOSSA & BEYOND, 2015

Gina Saputo is one of LA's most in demand Jazz singers. A native of Springfield, Oregon, Gina was born to sing and raised in a home full of music. She started training classically at the age of 8 in the Oregon Children’s Choir and had her first paying gig at the age of 11. By the age of 15 she was putting together her own groups and regularly singing in jazz clubs, often waiting outside during breaks because she was underage. She went on to study Jazz at the University of Southern California and the Thelonious Monk Institute.

Now she is an international jazz performer, College instructor, recording artist, session singer, model, actress and three time published author. She is currently teaching in the Bachelors Department at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. Recently, Gina was featured performing and appearing in “The last Tycoon” for Amazon through Sony Pictures, where her scene was featured on Entertainment weekly’s sneak peak.

Gina has performed all over the world, including for the State Department in Washington, D.C., and toured Viet Nam with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Nnenna Freelon. Gina enjoyed 4 tours in Japan, her last with Grammy nominated pianist Bill Cunliffe. She has performed headlining tours in South Korea 5 times, in Oregon with pianist Benny Green, at Club Nokia at LA Live in Downtown LA, Savannah Jazz Festival with Doc Handy, The Discovery Series in Jacksonville, Florida, with John Lumpkin and the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival.

Her first commercially released CD, “Gina Saputo” featured Gerald Clayton, and climbed to #3 on Japan’s Swing Journal charts. Her 2nd CD was promotional release only "Live at the Omni" , featured the legendary Plas Johnson on Saxophone. A prize possession amongst few. She won First Place at the Big Stage Vocal Competition and was the vocalist for Orange County Music Awards winning band for Best Jazz in Orange County, 2009, 2010, and nominated with her own band in 2013 and 2014.

She has lived in Los Angeles since moving for college and has become a regular at LA's top jazz clubs and on the scene. She has been featured on Good Day LA with Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra. Gina can be seen performing regularly with actor and pianist Jeff Goldblum and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, George Kahn’s Jazz and Blues Revue, Paul Young Quintet, Slide Fx Trombone Tentet, Rusty Stiers Band, Tenth and California, and her own groups.