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SOJA Sunday "Jazz in the Home" for June 15th 2008
 Born in Japan, Takana Miyamoto began playing the keyboard at age 4, and decided to become a composer when she was 14, choosing music over the visual arts career. She left Japan at age 19 to study in the US, with the aspiration of becoming a film composer. Accepted to Berklee College of Music with an honorary scholarship, Takana received several awards for her performance and composition talents from Berklee, and graduated as an honor student with a dual degree in Film Scoring and Jazz Composition. She won first place in the Randy Edman Jazz Piano Competition in 199 8, and moved to New York City where she performed with renowned musicians, and began touring and recording internationally.
In 2001, she was accepted as a U.S. permanent resident based on her musical talent (category EB-1), and moved to Atlanta where she was given the "Rising Star" recognition from the International Jazz Society. Women Looking Ahead Inc. (www.womenlookingahead.com) selected Takana to be one of "Georgia's Most Powerful and Influential Woman" as a composer, and they featured her in their magazine as "an extraordinary talent". In 2004 She graduated from Georgia State University with a master's degree in music.
Years of classical training are apparent in her piano sound, and she has an unusual sense of telling a story in her improvisation and composition. Her compositions are visual and emotional, coming from her film music study. She has produced four albums as a leader featuring her original compositions. Her current concert projects are; "Takana Miyamoto Trio" featuring Takana's Original compositions, "Piano Tales- Solo Piano concert" (calming, peaceful solo piano music from her "Piano Tales" CD), "Healing Music" and "Japanese Music". She also gives music workshops and is involved in educational activities.
Since 1998, Takana has recorded and toured with the five-time Grammy nominated vocalist, Nnenna Freelon. Takana was the pianist, arranger and the musical director for Freelon's two-time Grammy nominated "Soulcall" and "Live at the Kennedy< /st1:PlaceName> Center" albums. Wi th Freelon, Takana has performed at the events for/with President Bush, Aretha Franklin, Bill Cosby, Tony Bennett, George Benson and others. In 2003, Takana joined the risk-taking vocalist Rene Marie's group, and she is featured on Marie's new album of 2004. As a versatile musician, Takana continues to record/perform with the top Atlanta artists such as two-time Grammy nominee Russell Gunn (Hip Hop/ Jazz Trumpeter), R&B vocalist Dionne Farris (from Arrested Development), Khari Cabral's Soul Bossa Nova group "Jiva", house music "Ananda Project", and Kevin Mahogany (Jazz vocalist) to list a few.
She travels to Japan every year, bringing special guest musicians from the US to play at her hometown festival, clubs and concert venues. She is one of few J apanese people accepted as a US permanent resident based o n musical talent and success in the music field.
Official website: www.takana.net
Webpage: www.myspace.com/takananet
| Reservations and Guest List for this Performance: Mary Jo Strickland
(404) 378-6778
email: majos@mindspring.com
$20.00 donation per person
| Next Announcement August, 2008 Click here if you would like to suggest an artist. |
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