Akira TANA

Born and raised in California, Akira Tana has earned degrees from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music. Since coming to New York in 1979, Tana has worked with such jazz greats as SONNY ROLLINS, SONNY STITT, ZOOT SIMS, HUBERT LAWS, MILT JACKSON, JIM HALL, ART FARMER, THE PAUL WINTER CONSORT, PAQUITO D'RIVERA, JAMES MOODY, J.J. JOHNSON, LENA HORNE, and THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER, JUNIOR MANCE, and RUTH BROWN. His work has not solely been limited to the jazz field. He has accompanied diverse artists such as CHARLES AZNAVOUR, MAURICE HINES, AND VAN DYKE PARKS. He has appeared on over 100 recordings.

Tana currently co-leads a quintet with the bassist, Rufus Reid called TanaReid. TanaReid has five releases, "Yours and Mine" and "Passing Thoughts," on Concord Records and "Blue Motion","Looking Forward," and "Back to Front, "on Evidence Music. A CD on King Records and Evidence, entitled "Sound Circle under the name of The Asian American Jazz Trio was produced byTana and features himself, pianists Kei Akagi and Rufus Reid. Another project produced by Tana for King/Evidence Music is "A Tribute to Wes Montgomery" (Vols. I & II) w/Kenny Burrell, Kevin Eubanks, and 5 other guitarists. Tana will also have his own recording released in the spring of 2002 entitled "Secret Agent Men" on Sons of Sound.

An active teacher and clinician, Tana has taught at Rutgers University, Queens College, and Jersey City State College, and New York University and is currently on the faculty at San Francisco State University.

Akira Tana is a product endorser of YAMAHA DRUMS, SABIAN CYMBALS, AND VIC FIRTH STICKS.