New Release: Free: A Soulful Journey from Gergana Velinova

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New Release:  Free: A Soulful Journey from Gergana Velinova
Label:  Cellar Music Group
Release Date:  June 12, 2026
Website:  https://gerganavelinova.com/home

Free:  A Soulful Journey from smooth jazz vocalist Gergana Velinova is her seventh outing as a solo artist.  Melodies travel between being breezy and haunting, soothing and surging, caressing and sizzling, introspective and soaring, trussed in Latin-inspired shimmies, lulling melodies, and bluesy showtunes-style shuffles.  Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, into a family where artistry was woven into her daily life, Velinova's refined vocalese molds "Orange Moon" into a romantic calling as she muses, "Orange Moon / do you feel alone when you dance with the dawn / do you see that all / is your heart aglow / longing day and night / just to see his eyes and his golden face / across a sky ablaze /  so in love."  The sultry strut rollicking across "Something More" brings out the playful vixen in Velinova's performance, turning to a sprightly enchantress through  the title track, and projecting a strong-willed feline along "Keep Walking."   Free is a collection of compositions and lyrics that are written by Gergana Velinova and arranged by Velinova and pianist Kristian Alexandrov.  The recording came together over five transformative years for Velinova as she became a mother while navigating through the global pandemic of 2020-21, and became a Canadian citizen in 2025.  Velinova has a gift for intimating thoughts that listeners can relate to, and delve into shared life experiences.  Her openness is inviting and her musings are inspirational.

Musicians
Gergana Velinova — vocals
Kristian Alexandrov — piano, Rhodes, B3, vibes and percussion
Joel Fountain — drums
Peter Slavov — bass on the title track
Miles Hill — bass
Mojo Jones — bass
Cory Weeds — saxophone
Jon Bentley — saxophone on the title track
Ryan Oliver — saxophone on "Two Hearts"
Malcolm Aiken — trumpet on "If You Knew"
Vince Mai — trumpet on "Orange Moon"
Cameron Wilson — violin on "A Lullaby To Myself"
Shannon Gaye and Gord Maxwell — background vocals on "Keep Walking"

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