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Gina Benalcazar-Lopez

Ginita is a vocalist, trombonist, composer and band leader based in NYC

About Me

Ginita is an Ecuadorian-Honduran-American composer, trombonist, and vocalist based in Brooklyn, NY. Her specializations are in Latin-Jazz, Salsa, Swing, and chamber music, but Ginita plays and writes in various styles and shapes of ensemble depending where the music calls. She spends time in NYC/Brooklyn and on the West coast teaching at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a Visiting Professor.

She has performed with some of the world's most prolific band leaders and can be found playing with The Sinfonietta, The Roy Hargrove Big Band, Lulada Club, Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul, The Rufus Reid Big Band, The Dee Dee Bridgewater Big Band, Ulysses Owens Jr’s New Century Big Band, Helen Sung’s Big Band, Ted Nash’s Big Band, and is a member of the Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra where she contributes music and plays trombone in their weekly residency.

Ginita’s discography is expansive, credited her as both soloist and arranger/composer as a side-person. Her full discography can be found on her website.

Ginita is also the founder and musical director of “La Orquesta Esa,” her latin-jazz Big Band project which is releasing their debut album in May 2026 with the support of The Jazz Gallery. At the pen of Ginita, their core book is composed of original music by Ginita, as well as her arrangements by influences like Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Titi Amadeo, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, La Sonora Ponceña, and La Lupe. They have received the support of Jazz at Lincoln Center and have found a home playing frequently at Dizzy’s Club.

She has a Salsa Songbook and has contributed music to Jazz at Lincoln Center, Adriana Vergara, Las Mariquitas, The Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra, and other student and professional bands both nationally and internationally.

Ginita is a Yamaha Artist and plays exclusively on Yamaha instruments.