Dana Leong's Anthems of Life

As an electro-jazz cellist and composer, it's safe to say Dana Leong has created a niche that only he can fill with his unique fusion of jazz, hip-hop and funk. Often referred to as the "hi-def Yo-Yo Ma," the New York resident's newest CD Anthems of Life is a funk-laden, hip-hop, jazz journey. The Dana Leong Band features Dana (cello/trombone/laptop), Aviv Cohen (drums), Adam Platt (keyboards), and MC Mtume Gant a.k.a. Core Rhythm (rap vocals). My dialogue with Dana for Indie Mosaic Music:

(Indie Mosaic Music): What was the inspiration behind Anthems of Life?
(Dana): Anthems of Life is a collection of sounds, sights, flavors, and emotions acquired along our life-long journey. I continue to search for a machine that can capture the raw energy and intensity of my music. Similarly, I also wanted to collaborate with MCs who could stir the same amount of molecular excitement with their lyrical command.

(IMM): What did you learn from the production of your debut CD Leaving New York that you applied during the production of Anthems of Life?
(Dana): I learned so much from producing my first album Leaving New York that I decided to open my own recording studio. Before that point, I had a few pieces of music/recording gear that were piled high in my living room. The right tools for the job are PRICELESS!

(IMM): What is it about hip hop and jazz that enables you to blend and fuse and come out with your signature sound?
(Dana): Both hip hop and jazz influence and empower me to create my own sound because they are the closest to home. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and long before moving to New York City, I was deep into the hypnotizing thump of hip hop but loved the expression in jazz. After going to a conservatory, I realized that I was focusing a lot on what other people were doing and how they did it and not till much later was able to maximize my creative potential by 'coming home' (musically speaking.)

(IMM): Tell me about your tour of the South Pacific with the U.S. State Department's Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program. What was most memorable? Was the audience reaction/reception to your music any different than what you expected?
(Dana): We have our own tour blog on my website which hosts a whole lot of images from our tour. I can't say it enough that our recent tour was really monumental personally as well as musically. The thing that will stick with me is the adrenaline. There's nothing more magical and mysterious than functioning on 3-5 hours of sleep for six weeks, yet still feeling refreshed. Being able to make a mark in history through a program so plentiful with iconic musical figures such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Quincy Jones is an honor and a testament to our own mission to bring good music with a positive message to as many people as possible.

(IMM): What attracts you to the trombone and cello -- what some would consider two very different instruments?
(Dana): Now that I am a few years past the obligatory practice regime known as M.O.M, I enjoy both instruments because of their differences. With the trombone, you can call out all the way to the furthest point with nothing more than your own body, and with the cello, you draw people in to listen and get inside their body.

(IMM): Who would you like to gig with (in studio or in concert), if you had your ultimate choice?
(Dana): There are a few people who I missed opportunities to play with for one reason or another but I still have love for Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Evanescence. I'm also a sucker for the funk of Bootsy Collins.

(IMM): What's next for you musically? Any tours or collaborations?
(Dana): We (Dana Leong Band) are collecting tour dates and are looking to travel to Japan at the end of the summer as well as Europe in the fall. A new album is underway and the next recording session starts tonight! I've also started a new artist collaboration platform called "Life After Dark" (www.LIFEAFTERDARK.us -- coming soon,) which documents (audio and video) my favorite artists in never seen before collaborations.

(IMM): Here's a totally non-music related question thrown in for good measure. What's your preference - novels or magazines - and what are you currently reading?
(Dana): Lately, I choose magazines over novels. I've always been a literal person and prefer non-fiction. I read to learn and research the things I want to know (which never ends).