Senabella

Senabella Gill, also known as "The Bronzeville Diva", emerged on the Chicago music scene in the nineties. Moving in the jazz circle and having a great love for the music, Senabella gained respect from her peers as she became known for her earnest and diligent work. The media began to broadcast in agreement that she was a true jazz expressionist and was likened to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and other jazz greats. Senabella won the honor of being nominated in New York by KISS FM's Kenny Webb, as the "Best New Artist in Jazz". Thereafter, Senabella began her career as a touring jazz artist in the U.S. and abroad. Playing the Cancun, Mexico Jazz Festival, Las Vegas Caesars Palace, Ghana West Africa State House, Tokyo Japan, Montreaux Jazz Festival and a host of other venues around the world.

Honing her craft and making herself marketable was Senabella's goal. Born and raised in Chicago in a large family of fourteen children, Senabella found a way to have her voice and it was through her love for music. Her grandchildren Senebelle Brown, was a teacher at the state of Arkansas. Performing under the name "Ritchie Belle", she was a vocalist, pianist, and songwriter. To make ends meet, she sold her tunes to artists such as Muddy Waters, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, B.B. King, and Gatemouth Brown. Senabella inherited her grandmothers talent and beauty and was toldby her grandmother to pursue her love for jazz because it is where she would find her life rewards.

Senabella has hosted her own web radio show on WGCR FM, a television show on NBC PAX 38, as well as applied her talents to voiceovers, singinging back up for notable artists such as R. Kelly. She has shared the stage as an opening act for Stevie Wonder, Will Downing, Roberta Flack, Jeffrey Osbourne, Bobby Blue Bland, Angela Bofill, and Stanley Turrentine. On her television show, she has been able to gain acces to and interview Ravi Coltrane, Larry Coryell, Buster Williams, Oscar Brown Jr. and daughter Maggie Brown, Malachi Thompson, Andy Bey, Geraldine DeHaas, Phil Perry, Dee Alexander, Robert "Baabe" Irving III, Jimmy Ellis, and Corey Wilkes.

Her latest CD project is produced by Robert "Baabe" Irving III, formerly Miles Davis' musical director, painist, and composer. The collaboration proved to be a winning combination. The pressloved it and Senabella was recognized in the Chicago Sun Times by columnist Stella as having "the wow factor". Art Simms of the Chicago Defender said that Senabella is a consummate performer." Earl Calloway of the Chicago Defender said "Senabella is a sorceress of song!" Road Traffic magazine writes "Senabella has an amazing voice!" The album is a cover of pop and R&B tunes done with jazz arrangements. Senebella uses her beutiful soprano voice to portray the lyrical compositions that are soul stirring and memorable.

Senabella has taken her love for music and has been mentoring and teaching children in after school programs in the Chicago Publi8c Schools. Writing musical plays and creating tomorrows stars through her project "Music in School, After School". This project has been utilized for children in non for profit organizations where Senabella has written songs for them to perform by. Her most notable work with a non for profit was when she penned a song for Nelson Mandela's tour to raise money for the children of Africa. That tune "Say Yes", was recorded on Hollywood Records and performed by South Africa's "Sarafina".

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