Dana Land - Jazz Vocalist: News

Sonoma's 2010 Teen Jazz Jam Camp culminated with a terrific concert at Sonoma's Plaza amphitheatre on Sunday. 20 teens, ages 11-17, performed a total of 16 tunes learned over the 2 week camp. Pianists, guitarists, bassists, drummers, saxophonists, vocalists and even a tuba/bass trombonist made their way through clinics, jams, sectionals and rehearsals. They were wonderful and we thank Sonoma Valley Jazz Society for sponsoring 2 students and Sonoma Jazz + for their generous sponsorship!

Aaaaaah, walking and swimming at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world soothes and inspires the soul.
Had a really fun time recording a live session for the upcoming album with the Honolulu Jazz Quartet. What a nice bunch of talented musicians and friends! Thank you to leader and bassist John Kolivas, pianist Dan Del Negro, drummer Von Baron and saxophonist Tim Tsukiyama. Followed this up with an even more fun performance at the Top of the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki. The views are incredibly beautiful looking out over all of Waikiki, Pacific Ocean and the mountains. Thank you to all who showed up and a special thanks to Dave Rohner and to my special gal pals, Dana and Tyler, who adorned me with gorgeous leis of ginger, pikaki and puakinikini. Mmmmmm. I slept with them under my nose for a few nights...thought I had ended up in heaven. So good to see family and friends and look forward to returning in 6 mos. for a CD release concert. How grateful I am to have grown up there.

Dana's newest jazz group, Spirit of Jazz, (Madaline Duran, Eddie Duran, Chris Amberger and Kendrick Freeman) is currently taking their playful and interactive jazz presentation into the Sonoma Valley elementary, middle and charter schools. Thank you to the generous sponsorship of Sonoma Jazz Plus! By the way, some questions from the little jazz students; "Can you go to recess with us?" "Can I take you home so my mommy can meet you?" "Can I have your autograph?" "I was sad but now I'm happy!" "Are you famous?" Aaah, the life of a jazz celebrity...

Dana will be returning to her home town of Honolulu in June for a recording session with the wonderful Honolulu Jazz Quartet which includes leader and fellow Punahou alum, John Kolivas, saxman Tim Tsukiyama, pianist Dan Del Negro and drummer Von Baron. Recording engineer, Pierre Grill, will be on hand to set up for the live session. One of the tunes that Dana wants to include on her upcoming compilation album will be a classic swingin' hapa-haole song, a little ditty about a Princess Papule and her papayas!

We had a very successful recording session at Bay Records in Berkeley last week with the wonderful legendary jazz pianist, Larry Vuckovich, fantastic world-renown drummer, Akira Tana and the terrific John Wiitala on acoustic bass. Jeremy Goody did an outstanding job as engineer. Beautiful piano and good vibes there at Bay. Jeff and I wrote lyrics to Chick Corea's gorgeous melody, 'Windows', and recorded it along with 4 other tunes. We're moving along to our next group of musicians for this compilation album including a duet with Count Basie vocalist, Jamie Davis. If you haven't heard his smooth, chocolate baritone voice, watch out!
Stay tuned...

(Excerpt taken from 'Wine Country This Week'.)
It is a Summer Festival Like No Other...
Each year Napa Valley Festival del Sole brings together an astonishing gathering of internationally celebrated talent, and the finest in food, wine and Napa hospitality – for an unparalleled cultural experience.
The fourth annual Festival, which takes place July 17-25, features a roster of world-renowned artists that includes soprano Renée Fleming, violinists Sarah Chang and Nikolaj Znaider, pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Antonio Pappano and Conrad Tao, jazz singer Dana Land, and Napa resident Robert Redford. The festival, renowned for its world-class concerts, exclusive receptions, lunches, dinners and art exhibitions, also includes another important tradition – giving back to the community. This year, the festival hosts three benefits and deepens its commitment to arts education and enrichment through the launch of the Bouchaine Young Artist Series.
“The tremendous support we receive from the community is inspiring,” said Festival Director Richard Walker. “We are pleased to join forces with our partners to give back to causes important to all of us.”

Their rehearsals are paying off and they are sounding great! And just in time for their debut performance on Valentine's Day at The Lodge at Sonoma.
The band consists of 15 yr. old Jake Barrett on piano, Owen Barrett (12) on drums, Mike Bojorquez (17) on bass, Joel Kruzic (17) on guitar, with vocalists Maeve Greenberg and Carly Land, both 15. This group will be performing in the local schools and at other events, spreading the gospel of jazz. The future of jazz is lookin' pretty bright!
Go to: www.sonomacommunitycenter.org to download the application for our Teen Jazz Jam Camp, June 15-26th, 2009. The instructors are all amazing; Brian Nova, Roger Glenn, John Simon, Jason Bodlovich and Jennifer Youngdahl! This is a wonderfully intimate, fun camp whereby students receive one-on-one instruction, jam time, ensemble play and performances with the instructors in a supportive environment.

Yes, the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society is in its 20th year of bringing mostly free jazz to Sonoma. With our free Summer concerts in the Sonoma Plaza, our bookings for the wonderful listening venue at The Lodge at Sonoma and additional benefit concerts, we brought 83 jazz events to our little yet very hip town. We look forward to continuing the pleasure and the priviledge of extending a hand to help our fellow jazz musicians in keeping America's incredibly rich art form alive. A huge thank you to SVJS president, Janice King, for her professional yet friendly leadership and passion for the music!

Dana has the pleasure of being a part of the Education sub-committee for Sonoma Jazz Plus, Sonoma's world-class jazz festival produced by Jim Horowitz of Jazz Aspen. A part of the festival's profits get funneled into the local schools for music projects and education. In a time when school budgets are getting cut and the arts are often the first thing to go this is really needed and wanted. Thank you to Jim Horowitz!!
To learn more go to: www.sonomajazz.org

Yes, the Father of Vocalese, composer, lyricist and educator is coming to grace Marin's 1st Jazz Festival on Oct. 18th, 2008.
Dana along with terrific musicians; Jonathan Alford-pn., Chris Amberger-bs. and drummer David Rokeach, will have the pleasure of opening up for him and his great band including the legendary pianist Larry Vuckovich, bassist Buca Necak, horn player Noel Jewkes and drummer Chuck McPherson.
Please come out and support this festival and jazz icon. It promises to be a treasure-filled event!

Fun is in store for this 2-week jazz camp, June 16th -27th, 10-1 p., for music students between the ages of 13-18, located at the Sonoma Community Center. The fee is $350. and scholarships are available. We have 4 master teachers on board, with Dana as director, prepared to teach piano, voice, drums, percussion, flute, clarinet, saxes, bass, guitar and vibraphones! Camp ends with a concert in Andrews Hall and several more opportunities for students to perform in public during the Summer. Call the Community Center @ 707-938-4626 for more info.

As 2007 comes to a close I would like to give thanks for the richness that a number of us have experienced at The Lodge at Sonoma. As I said the other night, if I could bottle it and share it with the world it would make this planet we live on a better place. The talented and sweet musicians that pour everything into their performance, the intimacy and warmth in which we get to experience their every note and nuance has brought all of us much gratitude and appreciation for the musicians and the music. Janice and I have so enjoyed being able to work with Dave Dolquist and we look forward to the continuation in 2008 of one of the Bay Area's finest listening venues for jazz.

Stay tuned for more information regarding this exciting new endeavor including an emphasis on popular jazz music, comedy, positive news, celebrity interviews and human interest stories with yours truly as your host.

My talented friend, writer, actor, historian, chef and doctor of wine, George Webber, invited me on to his weekly 'Sittin' by the Fireside' show and allowed me to perform a few of the characters in his ongoing saga about the gold mining days back in the mid 1800's. I performed the parts of Sasparilla Sue-gruff bar owner- and Queen Victoria, visitor to Rich Bar. Some fun hanging out with those talented voice-over actors, George, Joe Herschaft and Will Penna.

Well, my wonderful fan and terrific new friend, Barrie Hayman, extended an invitation for an all-expense paid trip and performance fee for the 2009 Thredbo Jazz Festival Downunder. I've always wanted to put a shrimp on that barbie!

Immediately following a late night Sunday interview that I had with radio host/funny man Mal Sharpe on KCSM a phone call from Australia came in to the studio for me. It was a nice man who introduced himself as Barrie Hayman and proceeded to tell me that he had just listened to my interview and the songs they had played off of my CD. He said that the song, "If I Only Had a Brain", made him cry. It makes my husband cry, too. I love to make people cry. Anyway, Barrie ordered my CD from Amazon.com and looked forward to being able to play it on his radio station Downunder. We became fast friends, emailing eachother, talking about jazz and other life experiences and now I have the pleasure of meeting him face to face when he arrives in Sonoma on Sept. 8th. We'll take in a little wine tour, some lunch and what we intend will be a fun evening of jazz at The Lodge. I've got a trio behind me-some of the best- joining me, and maybe Barrie will sing a tune? There are very few barriers when you have the internet bringing us all a little bit closer.

I'd like to carve out some space here to thank all of you whom have come out to share the music with us at The Lodge at Sonoma. It means a lot to us all to have you there listening and enjoying. I'd also like to express my gratitude to Dave Dolquist, the GM of The Lodge, for hosting the music and helping us to keep jazz alive. Because of Dave's commitment and support the lounge has become one of the hottest, hippest, listening venues in the Bay Area. We're attracting the best musicians not only in the Bay Area but from as far as New York and Hawaii. Thank you, Dave--here's to the music!

Two very talented girlfriends of mine, Jaime Love and Julia Holsworth, wrote a musical based on a spoof of a 1977 beauty pageant entitled "The Ms. All American Housewife Pageant". It was very cute and funny and ran for 3 nights last week at the beautiful Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma. Jaime asked me if I would do a walk-on part and be one of the entertainers that come out mid-show and do a tune. I said, "Sure- anything to hang out with you fun girls for a week!" Jaime said, "Oh great! Will you be Charo?" "Charo?" Well, what can I say? I never thought I'd have to channel Charo. Cuchi-cuchi! And for those of you who might be curious there is a picture of Charo in "photos".
Thanks, Jaime, for giving me the opportunity to create one more bizarre and over-the-top character for my one woman show. By the way, you gals did a terrific job! Love you all!

It was a wonderful concert that jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich and wife Sanna Craig put on yesterday for our friend, Sandra Necak. Many of the Bay Area's finest jazz musicians offered up their talent for the occasion including Larry, Noel Jewkes, Jamie Davis, Jackie Ryan, Harold Jones, Vince Delgado, Danny Spencer, Shota Osabe, Buca Necak, John Wiitala, Mike Hallesy, Valerie Queveda, Jim Rothermel, Kim Nalley and others. I had a terrific back up band that included some of the above. Thank you to Larry and Sanna for their warm spirit and generousity. All our love and healing powers to Sandra.