About
Photo by Jen Squires
Genevieve "Gigi" Marentette sings the spirit of 1969 back to life.
Her fresh signature breathes with a new kind of color—it’s all groovy. Gigi's lens spins this trip of nostalgia sweetly as she reawakens and reimagines the music of a time filled with raw soul, heart, love, and deep feeling. — John Devenish, JAZZ.FM91
Click here for album reviews of Songs of ‘69, Volume 1
Biography
Born in Leamington, Ontario, affectionately called Tomato Town, Gigi grew up in a household filled with music and activism. Her mother, Linda Girard, a musician and social activist, introduced her to jazz, folk, blues, and global music from an early age. By five, Gigi was performing professionally under her mother’s wing, setting the stage for her fearless and eclectic approach to music.
Gigi’s teenage years were spent between Windsor and Detroit, where she performed weekly in local venues, held residencies, and collaborated with artists in Detroit’s renowned electronic music scene, such as Recloose, Jonn Arnold, and Theo Parrish. This period also marked the beginning of her lifelong collaboration with Armenian guitarist Sean Blackman, singing global music.
She has always had the type of voice and stage presence that mesmerizes an audience and is simply one of Canada’s finest singers, says Jaymz Bee of JAZZ.FM91.
Her formal training began with her music-teacher mother and her school’s youth choir, continuing at Windsor's Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts. After graduating from Humber College in Toronto with a diploma in vocal jazz, Gigi embarked on an eight-year journey performing across Asia and Europe. During this time, she developed her signature blend of jazz, Brazilian, blues, and global music, earning international acclaim for her vibrant artistry.
“Gigi Marentette is not your shrinking violet, wide-eyed, baby-voiced pop star; she sings from the soil to the sky, comfortably and deeply placed in her voice, with an enviable and effortless range that both shocks and thrills,” says Whitney Ross-Barris. “Her approach is unlike anyone else, bringing her wealth of experience, fearlessness, and intense musicality to everything she sings.”
Returning to Toronto in 2014, Gigi quickly became one of the city’s most recognizable and celebrated vocalists. As co-founder of Molly Johnson’s Kensington Market Jazz Festival, now in its tenth year, Gigi has been instrumental in nurturing Toronto’s jazz community.
In 2012, she released an EP produced by George Koller featuring Mark Kieswetter on piano. Her ability to reinterpret songs with her distinct voice earned her critical acclaim and cemented her reputation as a fearless and versatile artist.
Gigi’s artistry transcends genres, blending jazz improvisation with global influences and emotional storytelling. She has collaborated with jazz greats like Don Thompson, Ted Quinlan, David Clayton-Thomas, and Don Francks, as well as Canadian icons such as Jane Siberry, Esthero, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Colleen Allen, Guido Basso, Mark Kieswetter, and Michael Shand. Internationally, she has worked with artists such as Eugene Pao, Ted Lo, and Sean Blackman, exploring diverse genres and sounds.
Her global influence extends to electronic music innovators like Theo Parrish, Recloose, Marc Houle, NYMA, and Francis Harris, where she seamlessly integrates jazz elements with electronic textures. Gigi has also shared the stage with Roy Ayers, Larnell Lewis, KC Roberts, Lou Pomanti, Robi Botos, and Joe Sealy, bringing her distinctive energy to every performance.
“I love her singing, just love it. What a joy,” says Lori Cullen.
“Precise, heart-connected, exciting,” says Jane Siberry.
“An electric stage presence, a radiant spirit, and fearless creativity,” says Laila Biali.
Click here for press quotes, reviews and notes from the community.
In 2019, Gigi produced The Heart of 21, an album celebrating her mother’s 70th birthday and featuring a French waltz written by her grandmother, Lena Ledoux. That same year, she recorded While There’s Still Time, a contrafact of Moon River written by Don Francks, reflecting her deep connection to her mentor and her emotive range.
During the pandemic, Gigi released a cover of Leon Payne’s Lost Highway, remixed by Eric St-Laurent and Jeff Young. The project, which saw her taking song requests from friends and family, allowed her to maintain a personal connection through music during lockdown.
In 2021, she released Live & Improvised, an archival recording of a duo concert at Trinity-St. Paul’s Church in Toronto with pianist Robert G. Scott. This recording gained even deeper significance following Scott’s passing in 2024.
In 2022, Gigi began recording Songs of ’69 Volume I, inspired by conversations with her close friend and mentor David Clayton-Thomas about the social and political upheavals of the late 1960s. The album includes timeless covers such as Nick Drake’s River Man, King Crimson’s I Talk to the Wind, and Bob Dylan’s Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You.
The project launched at Toronto’s Koerner Hall in October 2024, celebrating the activism, cultural transformation, and music of 1969.
“Gigi has the rare gift of interpretation… she can take a melody and alter it slightly, and suddenly you are hearing that song for the first time,” says Marc Jordan.
Her recent album is a testament to her versatility, imagination, and commitment to connecting with audiences through music. Whether performing intimate jazz ballads or collaborating with electronic pioneers, Gigi Marentette continues pushing artistic boundaries, captivating audiences in small clubs and grand concert halls.