teaching a 2-day workshop in Tokyo, Japan. 2 days with the most talented students from 2 of Tokyo’s high schools.

with the super talented piano students after one of Vana’s classes

drummer Gene Jackson (second from left) coming to see the band: Billy Kilson (drums, left), Will Lyle (bass, background), James “Saxsmo” Gates (sax) and Vana

Having the most incredible time working in Prague with my favorite arranger/conductor, 6-time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra plus rhythm section. His new arrangements for Ute Lemper are amazing.

Vana at the Shanghai Symphony Hall, playing piano and conducting the orchestra’s string section for the “9 Secrets” concert.

Translation:

We literally played in a swimming pool….fantastic & unique location with great sound and audience.

Great 4-country tour, which included the Luxembourg Philharmonie, the Blue Note in Milan, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, and the Kassel Jazz Spring Festival in Germany.

   at the beautiful Luxembourg Philharmonie

   the core trio                                                                                 photos by Shinobu Gierig

Quincy Jones and Vana reminisced about the days when Quincy had personally handed Vana his degree at Berklee College many years earlier…

performing at Ronnie Scott’s…..Vana, John McLaughlin (gtr), Mo Pleasure (bass), Jojo Meyer (drums), Dan Reinstein (sax), Bertrand Fournier (gtr)

Here is a video of Vana’s new CD “Making Memories” recording, interview and rehearsal footage….filmed in the studio, as well as at Paquito D’Rivera’s house.

Vana Gierig — piano
Paquito D’Rivera – clarinet
Matthew Parrish – bass
Sean Conly – bass
Marcello Pellitteri – drums (all but “Morning Cadence”)
Gene Jackson – drums (“Morning Cadence”)
Vinicius Barros – percussion
Jane Hunt – violin (CD)
Pauline Kim – violin (video)
Wolfram Koessel – cello

filmed by Gildas Boclé