JANA HERZEN - Biography
Jana Herzens life and musical adventures include writing songs in Bali, jamming with aboriginal tribesmen around campfires in Outback Australia, recording in Africa and Paris with Afro-Pop stars, working out her album demos with members of the Carlos Santana band, and even, one time performing at a state gala for Nelson Mandela in Paris. The songs of her debut album, Soups On Fire(Motema 2003) travel through exotic far-reaching musical territories, while never straying far from the heart. The richly layered soundscapes of the album were tracked in San Francisco and Paris with an unusual cast of musicians led by Afro-Parisian producer-composer-performer, Shaka Ra, who is known best for his work with Papa Wemba and his song, Yaleo on Santanas hit cd Supernatural.Jana draws musical inspiration from her deep American roots and from her encounters with the music of many cultures from around the world. A self-described groove musician, Jana plays acoustic and electric guitars, bass, kalimba, dub didjeridu and assorted percussion instruments. She has performed at clubs and events around the U.S.as well as abroad in England, France, Italy, Japan, Zaire, Bali, Australia and Ecuador.In 2003, Jana founded the Motéma label which has been much in the press for it's award-winning Jazz artists. Motema promotes Jazz, World and other creative music by musicians with a knack for 'changing the molecules in the room' when they play. The current roster includes Lynne Arriale Trio • Roni Ben-Hur • Abstrakt Blak • Marc Cary:Focus Trio • Marc Cary & Shon "Chance" Miller: XR Project • DJ Jackie Christie • Jana Herzen • 'Bujo' Kevin Jones & 10th World • Babatunde Lea • Pete Levin • Amy London
Kit McClure • Rufus ReidIn addition to running Motéma music, Jana is also a founder and producer for the Langston Hughes House venue and recording studios in Harlem, NYC. Jana produces and performs regularly at Hughes House, and is fond of putting together interesting collaboaritive projects that cross-polinate between the artists on Motema and between other artists of varying disciplines. Jana tours solo, with her band and also tours in conjunction with some of the artists on the label. Contact
[email protected] if you know of a venue or festival that might be interested in Jana, or any of Motema's artists. Motema, by the way, means 'Heart' in the Language of 'Lingala' ... Herzen also means heart, in German... As you might have guessed, matters of the essential, authentic, intimate and powerful heart are of deep interest to this performer/producer.Motéma artists are available for touring, sponsorships and film scoring.
Please contact
[email protected].
