Bio
TIA IMANI HANNA Violinist, Vocalist, Composer
Tia Imani Hanna is a musician who takes listeners from one deep, swelling moment to the next, rarely pausing between chords without inhaling a fresh breath of passion into the river of her work. Ms. Hanna says her mission is “to create music that makes the listener remember they are spiritual beings, that spirit moves within us through sound, through vision, through dance…with joy and love.”
Family Tree
Born in Detroit, she was nurtured by a family of musicians, including her aunt, Naima Shamborguer, the popular Detroit jazz vocalist, and world-renowned jazz pianist, the late Sir Roland Hanna, who inspired her to pursue this indigenous American art form.
New York area performing
Ms. Hanna began performing during High School with Detroit area Orchestras and at festivals, benefits and concerts. She is an alumna of Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs School with a degree in Biology. After college Ms. Hanna studied with many local Jazz musicians to hone her skills while developing her own Massage Therapy Business. During that time she also hosted a popular weekly radio show called Take the “A” Train. The artist moved to New York City in 1998 for an 11 year sojourn. In New York, Ms. Hanna has performed in various clubs as a violinist and vocalist with a number of different groups. She has performed with notable musicians, including: Bobby McFerrin, Paul West, Eddie Locke, Mark Johnson, Earl McIntyre, Naima Shambourguer, Marion Hayden, Gaylin McKinney, Renee Manning, Miles Griffith, Miriam Sullivan, Alison Wedding, and The Harlem Symphony Orchestra. Hanna was the featured violinist for the Fourth American Jazz String Summit. This event was presented at the New School Jazz department, where Hanna premiered her composition, Brazil the First Time. Hanna was the musical force behind the independent film, Inside, an original dance, and music project composed by Ms. Hanna with video-choreographer, Andrea E Woods. It has become a permanent part of the Jerome Robbins Dance collection at the New York City Public Library. She has toured with The Souloworks Dance Company, and worked with Gesel Mason in the Washington D.C. area. Ms. Hanna’s debut CD, The Book OF Tia: Chapter One was also produced during this time.
Tia Imani Hanna produced and directed a concert of all of her published songs, and compositions, entitled, Everything I Hear, presented at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in 2005. The Second CD, The Spaces Between Us, produced in 2012, was a collaboration with guitarist, Elden Kelly, and percussionist, Carolyn Koebel, in her new group, The Tia Imani Hanna Project.
Current Direction
Ms. Hanna is currently working on creating a podcast, as well as her 3rd CD. She is teaching vocal improvisation workshops across the globe, and learning to be her best possible self daily.