Travilin' Light (1993)
By Ralph Burnett
"The first time I heard her voice, I knew
she was exceptional," says Roberta Flack. "She possesses a vocal range of more than three octaves, a pureness of
tone that can stop you in mid-stride, and a way of interpreting that brings tears to your eyes." And it was after auditioning
for Flack in 1985 that Gabrielle Goodman was inaugurated to an international career. "I'll never forget her solo
on 'My Funny Valentine' which she performed with me at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1992" says Flack. "We
were the last act to go on that stormy day, where a drenched crowed of 15,000 waited in a muddied field in the driving rain.
Gabrielle's solo came upon them like a clap of lightning. They stood, screamed, clapped, stomped and whistled for her.
They gave her a four-minute standing ovation."
Aside form Roberta Flack, Gabrielle has added her vocal and
writing talents to a roster that includes Nancy Wilson, Norman Connors, Melba Moore, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Chaka Khan.
On her debut release, Travilin' Light (Polydor/JMT), Goodman decided to focus on jazz, although she employs a
great variety of styles. Having honed her classical side, (she graduated from the Peabody Conservatory in 1990), Gabrielle
feels equally at home with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera as she does with Gary Bartz and Gary Thomas.
"I love all different kinds of music," states Goodman. "If I had to choose only one, I wouldn't know to
do."
