Thana Alexa Project CD Release Party with special guests Antonio Sanchez & Donny McCaslin

Antonio Sanchez – drums
Donny McCaslin – tenor saxophone
Ben Flocks – tenor saxophone
Sergio Salvatore – piano
Jorge Roeder – bass

Thana Alexa is undoubtedly a rising star. Her high level of musicianship, beautiful voice and powerful stage presence are quickly earning her a reputation in New York City as an extremely competent, creative and reliable addition to any band. Her unique compositions and arrangements, in which she regularly uses the voice as an instrument, bring together elements of jazz, pop and rock, making her popular both among listeners and players.

Thana’s first solo album “Ode to Heroes”, set for release in March 2015 on Harmonia Mundi – Jazz Village includes original compositions and arrangements marking a huge step in her career as a bandleader. The album features an incredible band of musicians including: Antonio Sanchez, Jorge Roeder, Sergio Salvatore, and Lenart Krecic. Special guests on the album also include Donny McCaslin, Scott Colley and Christos Rafalides.

Thana has performed with renowned musicians such as Antonio Sanchez (performances have included the Montreal Jazz Festival and Red Sea Jazz Festival), Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Lenny White, Buster Williams, Junior Mance, Donny McCaslin, Matt Brewer, George Colligan, Julian Lage, Boris Kozlov, Ari Hoenig, and Gene Jackson, among others.

Some of Thana’s latest collaborations have been: singing on Antonio Sanchez’s latest album “New Life”, composing for and recording on guitarist Gene Ess’s last album, “Fractal Attraction” and also on an upcoming album of Bernard “Pretty” Purdie’s. Thana has performed with Antonio Sanchez (performances have included the Montreal Jazz Festival and Red Sea Jazz Festival), Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Lenny White, Buster Williams, Junior Mance, Donny McCaslin, Matt Brewer, George Colligan, Boris Kozlov, Ari Hoenig, Gene Jackson, Clarence Penn, Orlando Le Fleming, Ron Affif, and Adam Birnbaum among others.

In 2011 "Siena", Thana’s original composition recorded on “Friends” was nominated by the Croatian Music Academy, PORIN, for Best Jazz Composition, and the album was nominated for Best Jazz Album. This nomination was an enormous honor given that these awards are considered the country's equivalent of the GRAMMY.

Thana won the 2011 Jazzon Alpe-Adria International Competition for Composers for her composition, "Ode to Heroes", which is the title track of her upcoming album. Thana is a graduate of the New School University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Although born in New York City, Thana grew up in Croatia – her family's country of origin – where she was mentored for many years by vibraphonist and club owner, Bosko Petrovic