Tonina, an accomplished vocalist, bassist, and songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York hails from St. Louis, Missouri, where her musical journey began. Raised in a family of diverse musicians, Tonina’s musical roots traverse Funk, Soul, Jazz, Classical, Folk, and Rock genres. Her upbringing, blending Black and Sicilian heritage, fostered a deep connection to music from an early age, with her initiation into Upright bass at just 8 years old.

Tonina’s musical prowess flourished as she joined the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra at 14, dedicating four years to symphonic excellence before venturing to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and later Valencia, Spain. This rich tapestry of experiences has endowed her with an unparalleled musical scope, allowing her to traverse genres with ease while infusing each with her distinctive touch. Her innate sense of rhythm, captivating melodies, extraordinary vocal prowess, and profound song interpretation collectively create performances that are nothing short of thrilling for audiences.

Since her graduation from Berklee College of Music, Tonina has shared the stage with Grammy-Award-winning musicians, including the likes of Lalah Hathaway. Her musical journey has taken her across the globe, from enchanting audiences at the Catania Jazz Festival in Sicily to earning recognition as one of NPR’s favorite new artists of 2018. Notably, her rendition of “Historia de un Amor” found a place on former President Barack Obama’s top songs list for 2018, further cementing her as an artist of remarkable distinction.

Tonina, along with her band, continues to enthrall audiences in Brooklyn and beyond, showcasing her exceptional talent and passion for music that transcends boundaries.

Tonina Saputo

Bassist and vocalist Tonina Saputo comes from a family of music lovers that exposed her to many music styles, from funk, soul, and jazz to classical music. She was born in San Diego, California but raised in St. Louis, Missouri from a multicultural family from African and Italian backgrounds. All these components have given Saputo a great musical scope playing many different genres but making each her own. Her sense of rhythm, melody, and her extraordinary voice make her performances a thrilling experience for all listeners.

Saputo began studying the bass when she was nine years old and has had years of classical training. She played principal double bass with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orquestra for four years and with the Missouri All State Orchestra for another four years. While in high school she had the chance to perform in New York at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.

She is a professional music major at Berklee and recently spent a semester on the Berklee Valencia, Spain, campus, where she formed an pop/R&B band with pianist Heather Rivas called Riva Saputo. While in Valencia, Saputo participated in two MMI recording sessions giving exceptional performances of traditional boleros. This summer, Saputo will be performing in the St. Louis music scene with a folk-soul band called the Almas.