Alexia Gardner

After graduating for CSSD in 1989, Alexia started teaching in schools in her hometown putting her dreams on hold momentarily, however after a few years she took up the opportunity to be the entertainment on a cruise liner in 1996 (MS Sapphire).

In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Alexia started her journey in Asia starting with a hotel residency in Hong Kong then Singapore (here she and her sister sang the South African National Anthem for Nelson Mandela) and after Jakarta, she spent the longest time in Shanghai after marrying the love of her life Markus Benz who then became her manager.

The move to Shanghai was pivotal, as she released her debut album "Rest of your Life" in 2002, which boosted her presence in Shanghai and Alexia started rubbing shoulders with the "Big Wigs" in the jazz circuit in Shanghai.

In July 2006, after the release of her second album "Jammin", Alexia moved to Switzerland (her husband's homeland), she hit the ground running, with the collaboration with the Offbeat Trio[8] and the creation of the Alexia Gardner Trio which performed with her on multiple gigs in Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria.

The next album in 2009, "Chasing Hope" was nominated for two Grammys in the same year. This album was with the Offbeat Trio and also was awarded the Swiss Jazz Award in 2011.[9] The album was 14 tracks long and included a lot of Jazz Classics as well as original songs including Chasing Hope (the title track). The inspiration for the song came from the move from Shanghai to Switzerland after living very close to her sister and niece, Paula and Alexia Hope and after moving missed her niece very much. Her family was also featured on the album, on the track "Island in the Sun" both Paula and Alexia Hope (credited at Hope Diamany) were the harmonies on the song while Paula appeared on another track "moon river".[2]

In between Alexia's second and third albums, Alexia took a brief break and took to the stage as the Nubian princess, Aida in the musical of the same name put on by the West Side Singers Switzerland.[4]

The third album "A little closer" was the last album recorded in Switzerland with one of the singles being about her not yet confirmed move to New York. After confirming the move, Alexia began a brief Swiss Tour where she sang her most loved hits, her final show being packed and sold out.

Alexia moved from Switzerland to New York in 2014 and after approximately 10 months in the states, Alexia debuted in New York (September 2015) where she performed for the first time at Symphony Space surrounded by fans, long time friends and family. A few months after which, in association with Little River Productions, Alexia released her documentary titled, "Alexia Gardner in Manhattan" reflecting her life and her music

In early 2016, Alexia announced that she would be releasing her fourth album, sometime in the near future titled, "Hanging with Mr. Man"

Alexia's family is centred in music, her sister, niece, father and cousins are all musicians, which brings no surprise that at times she features her family members for events, for example at new years 2012–13 Alexia featured her niece Alexia Hope for a duet version of "Mo betta blues" and her niece reprised "No one" by Alicia Keys. Her husband and herself have strong ties with Switzerland and therefore have a strong relationship with the Swiss Consulate in New York which sponsored her debut.

Alexia's vocal range spans three octaves. With a very round and toned lower register and a beautiful falsetto which comes from her classical and operatic training from her youth. Alexia has said on multiple occasions that her music is Jazz or a Jazz fusion with elements of R&B, Pop and Reggae all fused together.

Alexia names her influences as Barbra Streisand because she "taught me (Alexia) that my voice was my instrument and I have to care for it.", although in the starting of her career she was influenced by Diana Ross and later Sarah Vaughn.