She’s a singer, a songwriter, a band leader, an event-curator, and a Philly artist through and through. Most significantly, Carla Gamble considers herself a “vibe specialist,” and one listen to her Key Studio Session will show you why.
Active in the music community since she was a teenager, Gamble celebrates the city’s roots in soul and R&B on releases like last year’s She Is. Backed on this Key Studio Sessions performance by an exceptional live band — Cam “Joe” Cephas on drums, The Jusman on bass, Raquan Washington on keys, and Germaine Israel Gordon on saxophone — she takes us on a journey through all of those styles in a dynamic set of mostly unreleased songs.
An intense romance plays out on the driving funk of “Nobody Better Than Me”; the atmospheric instrumentation and spoken word verses of “Back And Back Again” channel the spirit of the legendary Black Lily jam sessions. On a vibrant performance of her 2022 single “Get Right,” Gamble dives into the house music bounce of Philly icons like Lady Alma — a mentor of hers, and somebody who was literally cheering her on from the sidelines of the studio session. Wrapping the set up, “Ode To Philly” bundles everything to love about the sound of Philadelphia in a tidy three-minute musical stroll from Overbrook to the heart of Center City.
Watch Gamble’s full Key Studio Sessions performance in the video below, and be on the lookout for new music from her later this year. You can also see her in event host mode with her ongoing Voices of Philly Soul Series, which next month presents its first comedy showcase at Punchline Philly on February 25th, with a musical showcase planned for Women’s History Month in March. Stay tuned to Gamble’s website for details and more information.