Description
Drummer, educator, and producer Akira Tana is known to ignite the rhythmic spark of the bandstand, with over 100 featured recordings to his name, both national and international tour schedules, a teaching resume spanning across the country, and music clinics-including one clinic led by the Heath Brothers—lead in the US and South America. Tana was born in San Jose and moved to New York, where he received degrees from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory.Tana has played behind greats Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert Laws, Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, The Manhattan Transfer and many others. He co-led the TanaReid quintet for 10 years with bassist Rufus Reid, releasing six CD's under the name. Five of their albums were even produced by Tana. He has given workshops at colleges across the East Coast, and has recently moved back to the Bay Area, conducting clinics and master classes, and teaching privately.
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