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A passionate fan following, a critically acclaimed album and show stopping appearances with the likes of Dave Koz and Peter White. This for anyone would be the things of which Smooth Jazz dreams are made. Yet, sax player Vincent Ingala is far from being just anyone. In fact, he is rapidly emerging as one of the hottest talents around and his debut release, ‘North End Soul,’ was recently described by Smooth Jazz Journalist of The Year nominee, Denis Poole, as “little short of remarkable.” The album derives its title from the North End of Waterbury, CT where many of Vincent’s family members grew up listening to the funk, R&B and soul of the day. With ‘North End Soul,’ he has embraced these old school sensibilities in a way that belies his years (Vincent is still only 18 years old) and, in doing so, conjured up what can only be described as a complete gem.
‘North End Soul’ was released in June of 2010 and bears testimony to the way Vincent pursues his musical goals with determination and zeal. Not only did he compose six of the tracks, he also played every instrument and, if that wasn’t enough, produced and engineered the album throughout.
This all seems a far cry from the time when aged four, his parents bought him a drum set. Later, he was given his first guitar and after only nine months of lessons in third grade, was strumming Elvis tunes that he had perfected by ear. Both friends and family quickly sensed that there was something special going on and this was confirmed when in fifth grade he mastered the keyboard before trading it in for the saxophone. Finally, Vincent had found the sound for which he had been searching for. He was hooked and the rest, as they say, is history in the making.
Among some of his more noteworthy accomplishments, Vincent was the recipient of a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music, Summer Jazz Program in Rochester, NY and twice won the 1st place jazz award in the Southern Regional High School Division. He cites Sam Butera, Wilton Felder and Richard Elliot as being among his major influences and one of Vincent’s prouder moments came when, at age 16, he was asked to open for Smooth Jazz superstar Dave Koz. The fact that he re-united with Koz on stage at the 2011 Newport Beach Jazz Festival is a measure of his meteoric progress. In the recent past, Vincent has opened up for Kim Waters and Jonathan Butler, while when the 25th anniversary party for Chieli Minucci took place in Branford, CT he was asked to perform.
For Vincent, family is a core value. He enjoys nothing more than spending time with his large, extended, Italian family.
Vincent graduated from Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, CT in May of 2011 and will be pursuing a career in music. With his west coast debut (at San Diego ’s Anthology) already under his belt, he is up, running and then some. Hold on, it promises to be quite a ride!
‘North End Soul’ was released in June of 2010 and bears testimony to the way Vincent pursues his musical goals with determination and zeal. Not only did he compose six of the tracks, he also played every instrument and, if that wasn’t enough, produced and engineered the album throughout.
This all seems a far cry from the time when aged four, his parents bought him a drum set. Later, he was given his first guitar and after only nine months of lessons in third grade, was strumming Elvis tunes that he had perfected by ear. Both friends and family quickly sensed that there was something special going on and this was confirmed when in fifth grade he mastered the keyboard before trading it in for the saxophone. Finally, Vincent had found the sound for which he had been searching for. He was hooked and the rest, as they say, is history in the making.
Among some of his more noteworthy accomplishments, Vincent was the recipient of a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music, Summer Jazz Program in Rochester, NY and twice won the 1st place jazz award in the Southern Regional High School Division. He cites Sam Butera, Wilton Felder and Richard Elliot as being among his major influences and one of Vincent’s prouder moments came when, at age 16, he was asked to open for Smooth Jazz superstar Dave Koz. The fact that he re-united with Koz on stage at the 2011 Newport Beach Jazz Festival is a measure of his meteoric progress. In the recent past, Vincent has opened up for Kim Waters and Jonathan Butler, while when the 25th anniversary party for Chieli Minucci took place in Branford, CT he was asked to perform.
For Vincent, family is a core value. He enjoys nothing more than spending time with his large, extended, Italian family.
Vincent graduated from Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, CT in May of 2011 and will be pursuing a career in music. With his west coast debut (at San Diego ’s Anthology) already under his belt, he is up, running and then some. Hold on, it promises to be quite a ride!
© 2012 vincentingala.com |
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