Dana Leong
Described as crafting lines of sublime lyric content (Chicago Tribune), and sizzling, highly stylized solos (Philadelphia Inquirer), Dana Leong started his impressive career with the rare skill of commanding both the cello and trombone. He has held roles as both a performer and composer with top artists including: the 2006 Grammy-nominated jazz chamber trio led by Paquito D'Rivera (where he fills a chair frequented by Yo-Yo Ma); the 2007 Grammy-nominated Dafnis Prieto Absolute Quintet; and has worked with Ray Charles, Diddy, Kanye West, Wynton Marsalis, Yoko Ono, and more. Following his successful debut release Leaving New York (featuring Grammy Award winners Christian McBride and Paquito D'Rivera), Dana recently completed his latest recording Anthems of Life.
As bandleader/composer, Dana heads The Dana Leong Band featuring Dana (cello/trombone/laptop), Aviv Cohen (drums), Jason Lindner (keyboards), and MC Baba Israel (rap vocals). The group's unique fusion of electronic hip-hop, jazz funk rhythms and rock propulsions is quickly hypnotizing the world. As part of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program, produced in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, they have toured all of Asia in 2007. Dana, who is of both Chinese and Japanese descent, was chosen, along with his band, from a national pool of applicants to represent American music overseas; serving as one of the country's urban music quartets that best reflects the talent and diversity of musicians from across the United States.
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Album Review
- InWhatStrumentals by Karl Ackermann
- Picture in Black and White by Victor L. Schermer
Interview
Album Review
- Anthems of Life by Lyn Horton
Take Five With...
Album Review
- Leaving New York by Tom Greenland
September 13, 2010
Musician/Composer Dana Leong Defies Gravity with Project Bandaloop
August 09, 2010
Musician/Composer Dana Leong Returns to California This Week for a...
March 01, 2010
"Milk & Jade" by Cellist/Composer Dana Leong Celebrates CD Release...
February 20, 2008
Multi-Instrumentalist Dana Leong Interviewed at AAJ
October 08, 2007
Jazz Cellist/Trombonist Dana Leong Launches New Album and Worldwide Tour
August 14, 2006
Wu Li featuring Dana Leong Sept. 6 at Bar Nine
February 23, 2006
Dana Leong CD Release Party March 2nd Jazz Gallery
January 15, 2006
Dana Leong Quintet Blue Note Debut Friday Jan 20th
September 28, 2004
- All About Jazz
Dana Leong is here to rescue you from your jaded cynicism about the US3s and Groove Collectives of the world. Jazz can still be funky and danceable, and hip-hop can most certainly still be artistic and built arounddare we say itsong structure...If the federal government's stamp approval doesn't cut it for you, take ours: Dana Leong is one to watch.
- MP3.com
Cellos and trombones aren't exactly instruments that are typically associated with hip-hop, but Dana Leong isn’t one to stay inside the box
Primary Instrument
Cello
Willing to teach
Advanced only