Michael Dana profile picture

Michael Dana

Keep your mouth shut and your hands movin'

About Me

Michael Dana was born in Lexington, NC on September 3, 1975. After moving frequently during his youth, including a stint in Ponce , Puerto Rico, he and his family settled in Savannah, GA.Inspired by his diverse background, Michael Danas style of playing is infused with rhythms from Jazz, World Music, and Classical. Michael Dana developed his hard groovin, interactive sound by pulling from influences like his drummer heroes, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, and Ben Riley.Michael Dana has been playing drums for 17 years. He holds a Masters degree in percussion performance from Valdosta State University. He has performed with Marvin Stamm, Ernie Watts, John Fedchock, Danny Gottlieb, Chris Crenshaw, and Kathy Kosins and has twice been the house drummer for the GMEA directors band in Savannah. He has also performed as principle percussionist with Albany (Ga) Symphony Orchestra. Michael teaches at LaGrange College, Dekalb PATH Academy, and the Atlanta Music Academy.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/31/2006
Band Website: michaeldana.com
Band Members:
Influences: Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade, Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Art Taylor, Ben Riley, Max Roach, Jack DeJohnette, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Bird, Diz, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Weather Report, Jaco, Herbie Hancock, Joe Herderson, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Larry Goldings, Michael Brecker, Dexter Gordon, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Paul Chambers, Keiko Abe, Kenny Garrett, Kurt Rosenwinkel, McCoy Tyner, Ornette Coleman, Basie, Duke, Stan Kenton, Stravisky, Aaron Copland, Gustav Mahler, Gustav Holst, John Adams, Steve Reich, Astor Piazzolla, Beethoven, Bela Bartok, Bela Fleck, Hector Berlioz, Leonard Bernstein, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Darius Milhaud, Antonin Dvorak, George Gershwin, Paul Hindemith, Charles Ives (YES!!!), John Cage, Ottorino Respighi, Palestrina, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Tchakovsky, Richard Strauss (not the waltz guys!), Richard Wagner, Frank Zappa, U2, Steely Dan, Radiohead, Primus, Phish, OutKast, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, The JB's, Stevie Wonder, The Ohio Players, Galactic, Charle Hunter, The Average White Band, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Michel Camilo, Pancho Sanchez, Bob Marley, Gilberto Gil, My Friends, My Family, my wife Amanda and my cat Pearl!
Sounds Like: Myspace Backgrounds
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Montreux Jazz Festival-Atlanta

Thanks so much to Matthew Kaminski, Trey Wright, and Micah Caldwell for jamming with me at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival at Underground-Atlanta. It was tons of fun and very well received! Jazz is al...
Posted by Michael Dana on Sun, 03 Sep 2006 03:25:00 PST