Thana Alexa
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Thana Alexa | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 19, 1987 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, contemporary soul, Ethno jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, violin |
| Website | www |
Thana Alexa Pavelić (born March 19, 1987) is a jazz vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her 2020 recording Ona.
Alexa's interest in music began at age three when she disappeared from a birthday party and was discovered in the basement playing melodies to simple songs on a toy piano.[1] She soon expressed a preference for the violin, and began taking lessons.[1] Although she began to sing during this period, she believed the violin to be her primary instrument and considered pursuing it vocationally.[1]
After elementary school, Alexa's family moved back to Croatia.[1] She began singing songs in English as a way of maintaining her connection to her mother tongue and her childhood in the United States.[1] In Zagreb, Alexa took voice lessons at the Rock Academy.[2] Musician and club owner Boško Petrović mentored her – she began attending regional jazz workshops and performing professionally, including at Croatian festivals.[1]
Alexa studied psychology at Northeastern University before transferring to the New School in New York City; she completed her psychology degree and received a fine arts degree in jazz performance.[2] She cites drummer Bernard Purdie as a mentor during this time.[1]
Career
Her first album as a leader, Ode to Heroes, was released by Jazz Village.[1][2] She appears on guitarist Gene Ess's album Absurdist Theatre.[3] Alexa has also collaborated with vibraphonist Christos Rafalides.[1] Alexa received a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy nomination for her 2020 album Ona;[4] Regina Carter was also nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo from the album.[5]
During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Alexa, vocalist Sirintip and saxophonist Owen Broder co-founded what Rolling Stone called the first "virtual jazz festival" and fundraising initiative of the pandemic, Live from Our Living Rooms, which helped facilitate grants to New York-based musicians.[6][7]
