Listen
A versatile bass player, Gabriel's maiden voyage into composing at 12 demonstrated his musical sophistication and depth. He has received eight DownBeat Student Music Awards in composition, performance, and as a jazz soloist. These awards are considered the most prestigious in jazz education and the educational equivalent to the GRAMMYs. He is a three-time YoungArts award winner and a Joe Zawinul Award winner. One of his compositions was selected for the 2020 Jazz Education Network Young Composers Showcase, and his musical aptitude also earned him the 2020 Dr. Lou Fischer Jazz Education Network (JEN) Co-Founder Scholarship and the 2023 Mary Ann Fischer Scholarship.
Gabriel's love of Brazilian bossa nova and samba inspired him to write his 2018 debut single, "Song for Fina", which was dedicated to a close family friend for her birthday. It earned him a DownBeat Student Music Award and was followed by "Kick Start", dedicated to his recording project's Kickstarter backers. "Kick Start" earned him another DownBeat award for composition. Gabriel teamed up with multiple Emmy Award-winner and multiple GRAMMY Award-nominee Chieli Minucci on guitar and in the producer's seat. Also featured are Special EFX members Joel Rosenblatt on drums and Jay Rowe on keys. "Song for Fina" was selected for the JEN Young Composers Showcase, which he performed with the U.S. Navy Commodores at the 2020 JEN conference in New Orleans.
"Song for Fina": "Brilliant and stellar music....the track is smooth, crisp, and a masterpiece!"
-WJMB Smooth Jazz Boston Global Radio
"Following up on his popular debut single, "Song for Fina", 14-year-old bass phenom Gabriel Severn - a two time DownBeat Student Music Award winner - pops and grooves from the get-go on his buoyant new single "Kick Start" - dedicated to those who supported his musical dreams on Kickstarter. The snappy, instantly infectious, romp spotlights Severn's rhythmic and melodic intensity as he holds his own (and then some!) while vibing with guitarist/producer Chieli Minucci and current Special EFX members, drummer Joel Rosenblatt and keyboardist Jay Rowe."
-Smooth Jazz Global
Teen Town's debut album, A Month of Sundays, features two original compositions by Gabriel, "Venture" and "A Month of Sundays". "Venture" earned Gabriel a 2022 DownBeat SMA in the High School Outstanding Composition category, and he won the 2023 DownBeat High School Honors Composition award with "A Month of Sundays".