Jana Heller has recently returned to the United States after fifteen years living and playing in England. There, after producing two independently released cassettes entitled Mad Waltzing and Twist and Turn, she signed in 1995 to Cycle Records and released her first CD Laughing in Crime. The album has received airplay in the UK and across Europe as well as in the United States. It has attracted interest and acclaim from the music press:
Superbly atmospheric or full of thumping clout, Jana Heller is a gal to watch out for. An assured debut, long on style and originality.
- Folk Roots Magazine.
Virtuoso dulcimer, fine acoustic guitar, a moving powerful voice and really memorable songs with great hooks. Jana Heller has a product here that could make her a big star - a singer/songwriter a la Kate Bush...this is a brilliant piece of work. A contemporary rock album which sits neatly alongside Springsteen and Alanis Morrisette.
- Tradition magazine
Superb quality and a good familiar feel from start to finish... In the very best tradition of famous contemporary singer-songwriters.
- Essex Folk News
Comprising twelve original songs, Laughing in Crime features Jana on vocals, guitar, dulcimer and piano, backed by a range of top musicians, including Pete Zorn (Richard Thompson band) and Ken Nicol (Al Stewart band). A track from the album was recently featured on the cover CD-ROM of an international computer magazine.
Born in Los Angeles, Jana played widely around California with her rock bands Aaahs and The Phantoms, winning American Songwriters' Awards and writing music for TV commercials and soundtracks.
On moving to the UK, Jana found a new and very different audience for her music on the English Folk Club circuit. These intimate venues proved ideal for Jana's own brand of folk-tinged acoustic rock music.
Jana Heller is a major talent... with a catalogue of stirring songs... with hints of irony and humour.
- The Hounslow Star, London, UK
Musically she grips an audience with her subtle stagecraft... a contemporary singer songwriter with style... Check her out soon, you won't be disappointed.
- Highly Strung
Jana has played at folk clubs and major folk festivals all over the UK, such as the Cambridge Folk Festival and the world-famous Bunjie's Folk Cellar, which has hosted concerts by Al Stewart and Paul Simon among others. She has shared the bill with acts such as Martin Simpson, June Tabor, Katy Moffatt and the Strawbs. Her music has taken her to the Republic of Ireland and also a tour of festivals, clubs and Universities in Poland. Jana has achieved acclaim both as a solo performer and in her various bands, which have featured prominent British musicians such as Brian Willoughby (The Strawbs) and Nigel Portman-Smith (Pentangle), and has performed live radio sessions for stations in the UK, Europe and USA.
Jana returned to the Monterey Peninsula in November of 1998 and now plays regularly at venues throughout California. She has appeared on a number of radio stations playing live sessions and giving interviews, and her album is receiving airplay on several California stations including KAZU, KSCO, KPIG and KUSP.
Jana Heller is clearly an artist of exceptional talent
- Monterey County Post
When Jana Heller sings, she cooks
- Salinas Californian
A recent project was the setting up of a British Style Folk Club, which gave local musicians an opportunity to play in an atmosphere similar to the clubs in which Jana played during her stay in the UK.
Jana is currently performing with Bill Smith (electric guitar) and British born Andy Gilhooley (doumbek, bodhran and percussion), and appears variously as a duo or trio.
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