Gina Roché: Jazz vocalist and mom:

By BRUCE JEFFRIES-FOX
Gina Roché, internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, will perform Sunday, Sept. 21 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, corner of Decatur and Hughes streets, Cape May. The show will begin at 8 p.m. and is free, although a donation is requested.
Roché has performed regularly in this jazz series over the past several years, despite giving birth to two girls in that time. Over the past year, aside from performing in venues all over the region, Gina has been writing songs for a new CD.
“This is the first time in quite a while, that I’ve been able to squirrel away the time it takes to focus on songwriting. It’s yet another milestone on this journey called Parenthood,” said Roché.
The content of Roché’s current songs is drawn both from observations about her family and about what’s going on in the world.
“Sometimes I find things to write about in the smallest little things that happen in our home and in my life. But then other times, with all that’s going on bad in the world, I find myself writing about the human condition. Some songs are happy, and others are sad. But that’s life. That’s about the best you can hope for.”
One of the more humorous events for Roché over the last few months occurred when she was working on a particularly challenging song.
“I was deep into self-examination—how I’d put my self aside for the past couple of years trying to be a good mommy. Then the phone rings. It’s the Osmonds! They want me to join them on television. I got to sing “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” with Donny and Marie Osmond. How strange is that?”
For the Vespers concert, Roché will be joined by a group of excellent sidemen. Keith Hollis will be on drums, Dean Carrigan on bass, and Shawn Qaissaunee on guitar. Roché will provide the vocals and play guitar, as well.
The group will likely be playing several Brazilian tunes, a genre Roché has specialized in for some time, as well as tunes influenced by African and Portuguese music.
Don’t miss this great show by one of South Jersey’s most musical mommas. Her wonderful voice and extraordinary stage presence means this will be a terrific show.
Seating is open: no reservations needed; however Gina often fills the venue, so coming early is suggested.
Limited free parking is available. For more information, call 609.884.0680