Cosmik Debris - March, 2003
Destino (self-released) - Reviewed by Shaun Dale
"Gina Scipione's self produced debut offers six songs of striking
emotional depth, bringing to mind the music of predecessors like Janis
Ian and Laura Nyro..."
http://www.cosmik.com/aa-march03/reviews/review_gina_scipione.html
The Ear Magazine - Spring, 2003
"Women in Pop" cover story
By Joseph McCombs
Pop/Rock Writer
http://www.theearmagazine.4mg.com/womeninpop.htm
Sunday,
November 3, 2002
Chorus
and Verse
"Gina Scipione reaches
inside herself and paints self-portraits for her listeners"
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Courier
Post Online
"Her fans are wild about
Cherry Hill singer-songwriter"
August 4, 2002
Nefarious
Entertainment Magazine
by Ben Fong
"Two Acclaimed Female Singer-songwriters release debut albums"
Philadelphian Gina Scipione
has recently released "Destino," her debut album
that deals mainly with introspection on her life experiences as a songwriter
and aspiring musician. Gina Scipione has become a well-known figure around
the Philadelphia area, especially around the University of Pennsylvania,
where she holds an annual folk-festival with other local songwriters.
Gina
has been commended for the emotional power she captures in every one of
her
piano-folk ballads.
July 25-31, 2002 Philadelphia
City Paper
musicpicks
Gina Scipione
Cautious, shy and contemplative, Gina Scipione took more than a year just
observing Grape Street Pub's open-mic nights before she stepped onto the
stage herself. That was then. Now the classically trained pop/rock pianist
hosts her own music circle at Penn, where she teaches English as a second
language, and she's a regular on local and distant stages. "There
came a point in the process of getting to know my music," says Scipione,
"when I realized that I was meant to express myself with a goal of
creating it, showing it and sharing it." That's probably why her
debut disc, being unleashed this Thursday, is called Destino.
Thu., July 25, 7:30 p.m., $7, with Lizanne Knott, Grape Street Pub, 105
Grape St., Manayunk, 215-483-7084, www.grapestreetpub.com.
-David Wannop
www.citypaper.net
July 25, 2002 West Chester Daily Local
Scipione premieres CD in Manayunk
By DENNY DYROFF
Staff Writer
Gina Scipione has described
the making of her first album as being
pregnant with songs and then giving birth with the release of her debut
CD.
Tonight, Scipione will officially introduce her six
self-penned tunes with aperformance at the Grape Street Pub in Manayunk.
The CD is "Destino," which means "destiny" in Italian.
"I started taking piano lessons when I was in second grade," said Scipione, who grew up in Bensalem and now lives in South Jersey. "I had written some poetry when I was growing up, but it wasn't until I was in grad school that I started actually writing songs.
"I was singing with a swing band doing standards and, at the same time, I was meeting singer-songwriters. Soon, I got the desire to write. I went to an open mic at the Grape Street Pub in 1997. I listened -- and realized that I really had to write my own material. It just felt like something I needed to do.
"One year later, I played my first open mic at the Grape Street and then started doing my own shows in 2000," Scipione said. "I just sat down and wrote and played and sang -- and kept doing it until I found something I liked. Usually when I write, an issue needs to be addressed -- and I come to a conclusion with the song. My songwriting is lyric-driven. Words come with melodies and they're pushed forward by the message."
Scipione graduated from LaSalle University with a marketing/communications degree, and then got a masters' degree in education at the University of Pennsylvania. She broadened her musical scope by spending a semester in Austria when she was an undergrad.
"I wanted to explore, and the opportunity to go to Austria came up. When I was there, I did some shows with Austrian singer-songwriters in Salzburg. It was an awesome experience. It really got me interested in performing.
"Even before I started writing songs, I imagined that I would eventually have my own CD. Back when I was 5, I was in Atlantic City with my grandmother. We watched a woman singing on stage and I said to her, 'Mom-mom, when I grow up, that's going to be me.'"
What: Gina Scipione CD release
performance
When: July 25, 8 p.m.
Where: Grape Street Pub, 105 Grape St., Manayunk
Tickets: $7
Information: 215-483-7084
July 24, 2002 Bucks County
Midweek Trend
Following her dream
By Sheri L. Elfman
Bucks County Editor
Gina Scipione relies on life experience when it comes to creating her
music. The Bensalem resident put her innermost thoughts and feelings to
good use while creating her first CD, Destino.
A singer/songwriter and accomplished pianist, Scipione originally was
going to be a teacher - music was more of a much-loved hobby. "I
was always drawn to it," she said. "It was a special means of
expression for me."
Throughout her childhood and into her teens, she took piano and voice
lessons from instructors at the Settlement Music School and Temple University
in Philadelphia, and also The Juilliard School in New York City. While
getting her master's degree in education at the University of Pennsylvania,
she took music lessons at the institution's School of Music.
Her love for music kept growing, and while in school she spent a semester
in Salzburg, Austria, to study it. During that time, she joined an Austrian
band, Cash and Powder, singing lead and background vocals. "After
that, I wanted to get more into performance," she said.
Scipione graduated and did some teaching, but realized that she wasn't
doing what she really wanted.
"I wanted to teach and help people follow their dreams," she
said. "But I wasn't following mine."
Music is her destiny
Scipione joined a local swing band, Playboys, led by Juilliard faculty
member Ken Iatarola Gordon.
"We did jazz standards," she said.
It was a perfect fit for Scipione because she grew up on jazz. Through
her parents, she was a fan of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald
and Frank Sinatra.
"It was a valuable experience for me," she said.
After that, Scipione decided she wanted to write and perform her own music.
"I felt I had something I needed to communicate and wanted to through
performing," she explained.
Influenced by musicians like Paula Cole, Patty Griffin and Jonatha Brooke,
Scipione began to work the coffeehouse circuit. Through it all, she was
always writing music.
"I need to write," she said. "I feel better - I feel like
I'm doing my part."
Scipione said that writing has helped her deal with issues in her life.
"I can come to a resolution with the issue," she said.
A year and a half ago, she began work on her first CD, Destino - Italian
for "destiny" - and although it won't be officially released
until Thursday, Scipione has been performing her songs all over the city
and beyond.
When she performs, her most requested song is Independence Day Ð a
song about ending a relationship with someone who never seemed to care
as much as she did. Other songs on her CD include My Request, Winter,
Silence, Moment of Truth and Take Me to Freedom. All have a very personal
feel. "Each song on the CD represents some of my life experiences,"
she said. She has performed at Philly's The Tin Angel, The Arts House
in Delaware and the Sun Music Company in New York City. She has also performed
at plenty of outdoor festivals, including the local Pumpkin Festival at
Core Creek Park last year.
She also produces and hosts the monthly songwriters showcase at the University
of Pennsylvania, has served double duty for the Philadelphia AIDS WALK
as a performer and entertainment coordinator, and has played numerous
benefits to support organizations like Make-A-Wish-Foundation, Dreamcatchers
and the American Red Cross.
Scipione also has been featured on Philadephia radio station WXPN, particularly
on its Folk Show as an interview subject and a backup singer.
All of this experience has culminated with her proudest accomplishment
- Destino.
Creating the CD, she said, has been very satisfying and rewarding. "Having
the CD allows me to pass something on," she said.
The CD-release party for Gina Scipione's Destino, with special guest Lizanne
Knot, will be on Thursday, July 25, at the Grape Street Pub, 105 Grape
St., in Manayunk. Pre-party is at 7:30 p.m. and showtime is at 8. Tickets
are $7. For information, call 215-483-7084. For more information about
Gina Scipione, visit her Web site at www.ginascipione.com, and to order
her CD, visit www.cdbaby.com
http://www.buckscountymidweek.com/
July 21, 2002 The Philadelphia
Inquirer 7 Days
Plan your week with this guide to the region's arts and entertainment
highlights
by Michael Harrington
THURSDAY
Cabaret pop With her show-tune vocals and earnestly dramatic songs of
personal growth, singer/songwriter Gina Scipione's new CD Destino
is a charming cabaret-pop gem. She plays at 8 p.m. at the Grape Street
Pub. Tickets are $7. Call 215-483-7084.
http://www.philly.com
Delaware County Daily Times July 19, 2002
By ANDREW CUSHMAN, acushman@delcotimes.com
'Independence Day' for singer
- Hey Gina, it's about time.
After making fans travel from live show to live show to hear her music, local singer-songwriter and piano-virtuoso Gina Scipione has put together her debut album.
The six-track set, titled "Destino," which includes the emotion-soaked song "Independence Day," will be available at a CD-release party Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Grape Street Pub in Manayunk.
"Releasing 'Destino' is like a birth for me," said Scipione, a brown-eyed, brown-haired University of Pennsylvania graduate. "I feel like I've been pregnant for a long time with these songs, and finally the babies are being born. It's time to let them go and have their own lives, wherever they may lead."
There will be a pre-party at the Grape Street Pub, which is a cool joint in its own right, at 7:30 p.m.; tickets cost $7. For more information, call (215) 483-7084.