Farther (still) Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra

• 1 Mi Respuesta 07:18
• 2 Elysian Shore 06:07
• 3 The Truth Is 07:16
• 4 Farther (still) 04:51
• 5 The More I See You 06:30
• 6 It's Just a Phase 06:29
• 7 You Don't Know What Love Is 07:52
• 8 December 07:04
• 9 Confluential 08:04
• Total Runtime 01:01:31

Info for Farther (still)

After decades as a guitarist, educator, and one of the West Coast's most respected composers and arrangers, Mike Dana unveils the fullest expression of his musical vision with Farther (still). It being the first time he's presented his own vision in this way, he brought together a remarkable collection of musicians and an all-star cast of soloists, including Bob Mintzer, Ingrid Jensen, Eric Marienthal, Tim Ries, Wayne Bergeron, and Aaron Janik, to explore seven expansive original compositions alongside fresh arrangements of two standards. Balancing rich orchestral colors, memorable melodies and inspired improvisation, Dana's musical voice is at once sophisticated and deeply expressive. While echoing the influence of the great contemporary jazz composers, Farther (still) speaks with a distinctive voice, one shaped by a lifetime of performing, composing, and imagining new possibilities for the modern jazz orchestra, always reaching still farther.

"...a musician's musician, a hidden gem, for years playing and hanging with the best of the best. And now some of those jazz greats have gathered to bring Mike's incredible music to life. 'Farther (still)' showcases what we on the West Coast have known for decades: Mike Dana is the real deal!" (Benjamin Boone)

David Becker, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Ron McCarley, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Michael Mull, baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
Jessica Hoffman, oboe
Lisa Nauful, bassoon
Wayne Bergeron, trumpet
Daniel Rosenboom, trumpet
Alex Iles, trombone
Alan Ferber, trombone
Joe Turgeon, bass trombone
Mike Dana, guitar
George Stone, piano, keyboard
Ron Suffredini, basses
Dave Tull, drums
Brian Kilgore, percussion
Special guests:
Aaron Janik, trumpet (tracks 1, 5, 7)
Ingrid Jensen, trumpet (tracks 2, 8)
Eric Marienthal, alto saxophone (tracks 5, 9)
Bob Mintzer, tenor saxophone (tracks 3, 5, 6)
Tim Ries, soprano saxophone (track 4), tenor saxophone (track 8)

Recorded by George Stone at Central Coast Studio Works, Cambria, CA in August 2025
Mixed, edited & assembled by George Stone
Mastered by Will Borza at Seismic Mastering Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Additional recording from March-November, 2025 by:
Brian Kilgore at Ancient Pathways Recording (CA); Aaron Janik at ARJ Studios (CA); Dan Rosenboom at BoomHill Studio (CA); Bob Mintzer at Canyon Cove Studio (CA); Dan Rorke at Charles Myers Recording Studio, Manhattan School of Music (NY); Wayne Bergeron at Gault Street Sound (CA); Laura de Rover at LDR Studio, NYC; Alan Ferber at Sanctuary Studio (NY)
Produced by George Stone & Mike Dana

Mike Dana
Composer, educator, and guitarist Mike Dana is currently a faculty member of Jazz Education Abroad, and emeritus professor of music at Fresno City College. With JEA, Mike performs and teaches regularly in Lebanon, Cyprus, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand. From 1990 to 2018, he served as Director of Jazz Studies at Fresno City College in California. At FCC, Mike directed the award-winning Jazz Ensemble, jazz combos, vocal jazz ensemble, and taught arranging, composition, jazz theory, advanced improvisation, jazz history, music business, and Finale. Many of his former students have gone on to become successful performers and educators themselves.

Mike’s many compositions and arrangements for instrumental and vocal jazz ensemble are performed all over the world, and are published by Kendor, Alfred, Jazzlines, UNC Jazz Press, and Excelcia. Several have been J. W. Pepper “Editor’s Choice” selections. Recent commissions include charts for the Jazz Education Network, Taipei Jazz Orchestra, Tokyo Big Band, Azusa Pacific University, and many high schools.

Mike has presented clinics on jazz improvisation, theory, rehearsal techniques, and guitar master classes at the Jazz Education Network national conference, the California All-State Music Education Conference, and at many regional conferences, universities, and festivals throughout the U.S. He is regular artist/instructor at the Lafayette Summer Music Workshop, the Summer Jazz Institute at CSU Long Beach, the Central Coast Jazz Guitar Festival, and the Yosemite Guitar Workshop. Mike is also in demand as an adjudicator, honor group conductor, and artist in residence at universities across the U.S.. He was a Grammy Foundation Music Educator of the Year semi-finalist, California Jazz Educator of the Year (2018), and was inducted into the California Alliance for Jazz Hall of Fame (2018.)

“Confluential”, the new album by the Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra, is set for release in Spring 2026. It includes seven original compositions, +2 arrangement of jazz standards. Featured guests include Ingrid Jensen, Bob Mintzer, Tim Ries, Eric Marienthal, and many more.

Mike holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in composition, with additional studies at the Berklee College of Music and doctoral work at Boston University. He also studied privately with jazz guitar legend Joe Pass. His guitar credits include performances with Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Bergeron, Gary Burton, Ingrid Jensen, Eric Marienthal, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, Ernie Watts, and may others. Recent highlights include serving as a US State Department cultural envoy to Thailand as a member of the Allison Miller Quartet, and performing with Robin Eubanks and Antonio Hart. Mike is also the founder (and guitarist) of the Jazz Composers Orchestra, a large ensemble that includes many of the finest performers and educators in central California. He continues to perform regularly with the JCO, the Newe Organ Trio, and with After Dinner Mints, a retro-swing group.

This album contains no booklet.