Thana Alexa

Thana Alexa
Background information
Born March 19
New York, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Nu Jazz, World, Electronica, Pop
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Voice, violin
Associated acts Antonio Sanchez & Migration
Gene Ess & Fractal Attraction
Christos Rafalides & Manhattan Vibes
Website www.thanaalexa.com

Thana Alexa (born Thana Alexa Pavelić) is a Croatian-American jazz vocalist and composer.[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life

Born in New York City to Croatian parents, Alexa’s interest in music began at age three when she disappeared from a birthday party and was discovered in the basement playing melodies to simple songs on a toy piano. Her parents sought to nurture her precocious talent through enrollment at a local music school, from which they were initially turned away due to Alexa’s age. After some supplication, the school's director agreed to listen to Alexa perform on piano. She was impressed and suggested a beginner’s piano class. To the surprise of the adults involved, then three-year-old Alexa evidently refused the suggestion and stated that she would prefer to play the violin. Due to her age and the size of her hands, she had to wait one year to begin violin lessons at age four. Although she began to sing during this period as well, she believed the violin to be her primary instrument and considered pursuing it vocationally.[1]

After elementary school, Alexa’s family relocated back to Croatia. She began singing songs in English as a way of maintaining her connection to her early childhood in the United States. Alexa studied jazz, blues and soul styles at the Rock Academy in Zagreb and gradually shifted her focus away from the violin. A chance encounter with Croatian jazz vibraphonist and club-owner Boško Petrović inspired the elder musician to mentor her. She began to attend regional jazz workshops and to perform professionally at his jazz club and local Croatian festivals.[1][2]

Alexa attended Northeastern University for one year as a psychology major and subsequently transferred to the New School in New York City where she completed a dual degree program earning a BFA in jazz vocal performance at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and a BA in psychology at the New School’s Eugene Lang College.[2] She cites drummer and educator Bernard Purdie as a mentor during this time.[1][3]

Musical career

As a bandleader, Alexa released her debut album Ode to Heroes (Jazz Village/Harmonia Mundi) in 2015 featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin, drummer Antonio Sanchez and bassist Scott Colley.[1][4][2][5][2][6] Her second album ONA is slated for release in early 2019 and blends jazz, world music, electronica, soul and pop amidst a humanistic exploration of the feminine and the power of women in contemporary society. The album features guest artists including violinist Regina Carter, vocalist Becca Stevens, activist/poet Staceyann Chin and others.[7]

Alexa is an active member of Antonio Sanchez' touring ensemble Migration and has recorded two critically acclaimed albums with the group, New Life (CAM Jazz) and The Meridian Suite (CAM Jazz) featuring saxophonist Seamus Blake, pianist John Escreet and bassist Matt Brewer. Alexa also appears on four of guitarist Gene Ess's albums, including Fractal Attraction (SIMP Records), Eternal Monolyth (SIMP Records) and Absurdist Theatre (SIMP Records). Alexa contributed vocals, compositions and lyrics to the first two albums, which won the SESAC Jazz Award in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The group’s third album Absurdist Theater featured Manuel Valera, Yasushi Nakamura and Clarence Penn and was released in September 2016. The group’s fourth album featuring Sebastien Ammann, Yasushi Nakamura and Clarence Penn and will be released in late 2018.[8] Alexa has also worked with Greek vibraphonist Christos Rafalides.[1][2][9][10][11]

As an educator, Alexa serves on the faculty of the New York Jazz Academy.[12]

Awards

In both 2016 and 2017, Alexa placed in the Downbeat Critics Poll for “Rising Female Vocalist.”[13] She placed as runner-up in the 2014 Made in New York Jazz Competition.[14] In 2011, she was both the winner of the Jazzon Alpe-Adria International Composition Competition as well as a nominee for Best Jazz Composition award by PORIN, the Croatian Music Academy (an honor equivalent to the American Grammy Awards).[11]

Year Award Place
2017 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Female Vocalist Nominee
2016 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Female Vocalist Nominee
2014 Made in New York Jazz Competition Runner-up
2011 Jazzon Alpe-Adria International Composition Competition 1st Place
2011 PORIN Music Awards Nominee

Selected Discography

As leader

As sidewoman

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Deluke, R.J. "Thana Alexa: Singer and Instrument" (HMTL). All About Jazz. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Staudter, Thomas. "Thana Alexa: Strategic Planner" (HMTL). Downbeat Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  3. 1 2 "American-Croatian Jazz Vocalist Thana Alexa to Perform in Dubrovnik" (HMTL). CroatiaWeek. 2015-07-25. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  4. 1 2 Carol, Weber. "No ordinary singer: Thana Alexa illuminates her place in 'Ode to' jazz heroes" (HMTL). AXS. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  5. ↑ "02-28-15" (HMTL). Midwest Record. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  6. 1 2 Chinen, Nate (2015-06-08). "Review: Antonio Sánchez With 2 Albums, 'The Meridian Suite' and 'Three Times Three'" (HMTL). New York Times. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  7. 1 2 Weber, Carol. "Thana Alexa celebrates power of women everywhere on 'ONA'" (HMTL). Festival Peak. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Gene Ess official website" (HMTL). jazzcorner.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  9. ↑ Lloyd, Sachs (2013-04-18). "Antonio Sanchez: New Life" (HMTL). Jazztimes Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  10. 1 2 Garutch, Sylvannia (2016-09-16). "Gene Ess: Absurdist Theatre" (HMTL). Elmore Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  11. 1 2 "Thana Alexa: Bio" (HMTL). 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  12. ↑ "Thana Alexa" (HMTL). New York Jazz Academy. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  13. ↑ "Annual 65th Critics Poll Complete Results" (HMTL). Downbeat Magazine. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  14. ↑ "New York Events" (HMTL). CBS New York. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  15. ↑ "Gene Ess Fractal Attraction". Allmusic. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
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