Influenced by Brazilian pop and the music of her native Argentina,
Gabriela Anders spent much time in America soaking up jazz and R&B sensibilities, all of which inform her singing. The daughter of a jazz saxophone player,
Anders studied classical guitar while a child but moved to piano study at a Buenos Aires conservatory. She spent much time in New York as well, soaking up the music of tenor specialists
John Coltrane,
Stan Getz and
Dexter Gordon. She also studied with
Don Sebesky and began singing with
Grover Washington, Jr. and
Tito Puente while going to college. A brief time in Japan resulted in her first album, 1996's Fantasia (recorded as Beleza), though she had returned to New York by 1997. After sending a demo tape into Warner Jazz,
Anders signed a contract and released
Wanting in August 1998. ~ John Bush