Rita di Ghent

"The best new singers I’ve heard have depended not so much on pure sonic pleasure or vocal emotion, but on ideas," wrote jazz columnist Will Friedwald in The New York Sun Dec. 9. One of them is Rita di Ghent (BFA '83), who teaches jazz vocals in York's Music Department. "The three albums I’ve heard by her (on Groove Productions), all have new ideas on them," wrote Friedwald. "Di Ghent’s most engaging idea is the sound she calls ‘sprawl,’ in which she starts with a standard, like ‘He’s Funny That Way,’ and departs from it in an original passage that’s somewhere between rap and poetry recitation," wrote Friedwald. "These variations make vintage songs seem contemporary without sounding like she’s stooping to conquer. Now that’s a new idea." - Will Friedwald, NY Sun

“…di Ghent is in the mold-breaking business, and has come up with a style all of her own called “sprawl”….sharp, sassy, funky and even fashionable, di Ghent’s performance demonstrated that she can sing jazz in the traditional sense while also bringing her own more modern lyrical and vocal skills to the party. Several of her own song, which focus on North American street life, are excellent, particularly 20 Dollar Ring, a tale of a poverty-stricken girl murdered for a worthless piece of jewelry, and the witty Signs of Spring in My Neighbourhood. Perhaps the high point of the show, however, was a radical re-invention of Bob Dylan’s Just Like a Woman…extraordinarily compelling.” (The South China Morning Post) - South China Post

…”Rita di Ghent est une chanteuse hot dans la tradition, avec une belle voix mezzo qui colle a merveille (“What a Little Moonlight Can Do”)… Rita di Ghent est une chanteuse don’t on se souvient et qui ne laisse pas indifferent. (Michel Bedin, Jazz Hot, Paris) - Jazz Hot, Paris

“di Ghent’s versions of God Bless the Child and Bob Dylan’s Just Like a Woman are beautiful in their simplicity, her voice capturing determination and frailty as it dips and disappears…Signs of Spring in My Neighbourhood is a fantastic slice of life from her Dundsas/Sherbourne hood. She paints lyrical pictures with color and detachment, pulling you in and leaving you wondering… Who knows?—maybe one day they’ll make one of those Canadian Heritage commercials about the invention of Sprawl…” (Eye Magazine, Toronto) - EYE Magazine

“…to find an artist who can write and perform out of a traditional jazz setting, and yet do it in a way that appeals to a wide cross-section of musical tastes in no easy feat. To find this quality in an artist who also maintains the highest standards of musical integrity is even more rare. Rita is such an artist.” - The Medicine Hat News

“Intertwining original material with standard tunes is one of my favourite aspects of di Ghent’s work…di Ghent has a definitely refreshing sound. If the future of Jazz is Rita di Ghent, then the future sounds bright.” - The Vancouver Discorder

What can I say... the girl is BRILLIANT!!! . I'm crazy about her voice, her style, her arrangements, her own compositions, etc... Is there a chance that Rita will be coming to Australia in the near future? ...di Ghent's got a million dollars down your throat! It is obvious that I'm a Rita di Ghent fan, or do I have to spell it out any clearer?

Harold Ellison "The Jazz Cafe" TripleU-FM Nowra, New South Wales, Australia
- The Jazz Cafe

We are the cities leading Roots and Jazz based independent music station in this city, we are free of the restraints of corporate's and government departments. We are the country's leading music station. Music and just music is what we are about. ...We really love Rita Di Ghents stunning singing on these cd's. Her style has a fine groove about it and just so very, very cool. Add to this such a wonderful band and it is obvious why we love Rita's work. Now our allocation was easy to decide on, we would place your music with a show that has been on air here in Melbourne for over 18 years, specializing in female singers of Jazz and Blues, a show just so popular in this city. The show is "Roots Of Rhythm" with Helen Jennings, Wednesdays 9 to 11am. Our station has over 400-000 listeners per week and over 5 million hits per month on our web site.

Peter Merrett, Music manager for radio station PBS FM 106-7 Melbourne Australia.

- Peter Merett

Rita di Ghent is a great vocalist from Canada who deserves to be better known across the globe. Groovy and sensual, she takes you on a wonderful journey... Pascal Dorban 'Jazz.com' programme Radio ARA, Luxembourg - Jazz.com