Dana Leong

Dana Leong an Asian-American artist of Chinese and Japanese descent, Dana studied both classical cello and jazz trombone on double scholarships at Manhattan School of Music. As an official Yamaha artist, Dana gives clinics and workshops around the globe on the use of electronics with cello and trombone, and his unique genre-bending composition techniques. Blending Jazz Rock and Hip Hop. "The songs find their origins in hip-hop, but this is no surprise.

"The songs find their origins in hip-hop, but this is no surprise. It is actually comforting that an artist of this generation has instilled his poetry with universal vision; a vision that permeates the state of art, music, race and the world to life them up and bring them to an attention that is broad, and not simply for a select few." ? All About Jazz

Electro-jazz cellist/composer Dana Leong fuses hip-hop, jazz and electronics to create a signature boundless sound. Often referred to as a "hi-def Yo-Yo Ma," Dana has revolutionized the cello with his cutting edge amplification, lyrical melodies, and collage of jazz textures and improvisations. Whether as a performer, composer, collaborator, or recording producer, Dana's pioneering fusion of electronic music and ethereal jazz sensualities has garnered critical acclaim and wowed audiences worldwide.

As bandleader/composer, he heads the quartet MILK & JADE by Dana Leong (formerly known as The Dana Leong Band) featuring Dana (cello/trombone/laptop), Aviv Cohen (drums), Adam Platt (keyboards), and MC Mtume Gant a.k.a. Core Rhythm (rap vocals). The group's unique blend of electronic hip-hop, jazz funk rhythms and rock propulsions is a sonic representation of Dana's hybrid artistic vision. Dana, an Asian American artist of Chinese and Japanese descent, and his band were selected from a national pool of applicants to represent American music overseas 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, MILK & JADE by Dana Leong served as one of the country's urban music quartets that best reflects the talent and diversity of musicians from across the United States. They recently completed their sold-out tour throughout Asia, which culminated at New York City's Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club in April 2008.

Described as crafting "lines of sublime lyric content" (Chicago Tribune), and "sizzling, highly stylized solos" (Philadelphia Inquirer), Dana 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.

Whether as a performer, composer, collaborator, or recording producer, he has worked with top artists: Ray Charles, Dafnis Prieto, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Wynton Marsalis, Yoko Ono, and Kanye West, P Diddy, and more. Following his successful debut release Leaving New York (featuring Grammy Award winners Christian McBride and Paquito D'Rivera), Dana recently released his latest recording Anthems of Life.

On screen, Dana has acted and performed on screen in a number of different settings such as Steven Spielberg's feature film The Terminal, Robin Williams' August Rush, NBC's Law & Order, The Today Show, and with The Roots "Live at Wetlands." Dana has even performed for fashion shows including designers Alexander Hercovitch and Dianne von Furstenberg.

Dana studied both classical cello and jazz trombone at the Manhattan School of Music. As an official Yamaha artist, Dana gives clinics and workshops around the globe on the use of electronics with cello and trombone, and his unique genre-bending composition techniques.

During the 2010 tour Dana is a member of Lila Downs live band playing trombone.