Akira Tana

b. 14 March 1952, San Jose, California, USA. A self-taught drummer, Tana performed semi-professionally while still at university. He went to Harvard College or university where he obtained a qualification in East Asian Research/Sociology. Then studied at the brand new Britain Conservatory of Music, also acquiring personal tuition from percussionists using the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. During his research he had the chance of dealing with Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, George Russell, Sonny Stitt as well as other leading jazz music artists. He also used the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many of the traditional music ensembles at the brand new Britain Conservatory. In the first 80s he continuing to accompany main artists such as for example Al Cohn, Artwork Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims and Cedar Walton. He also performed with performers beyond your jazz globe, including Charles Aznavour and Lena Horne. Tana documented extensively of these years and likewise to albums with a number of the foregoing also made an appearance with Went Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh and many more. In the first 90s Tana caused Wayne Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. With Rufus Reid he created the music group TanaReid and, with Reid and pianist Kei Akagi, the Asian American Jazz Trio. A theoretically completed drummer, Tana’s wide variety is usually hinted at from the music artists with whom he spent some time working. Comfortably in the home associated performers and instrumental ballads, Tana is usually similarly in his component playing hard bop. Within the rings he co-leads with Reid he produces an excitingly propulsive rhythmic travel. Furthermore to playing, Tana in addition has created and co-produced many albums including those by TanaReid, the Asian American Jazz trio and Task G-7. He frequently conducts workshops and treatment centers at universites and colleges, including Berklee University Of Music, and can be an adjunct teacher at two schools.