About Jana Herzen

Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jana Herzen originally hales from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Motéma recording artist and also the Founder and President of the multi-GRAMMY®-winning tastemaker label, which specializes in culturally trenchant jazz, world, soul and other creative music.

Herzen has released three band albums of original music – and three duo projects – Passion of a Lonely Heart, ‘Round the World, Nett Duo: Overtones with her musical and life partner, the famed jazz bass virtuoso, Charnett Moffett.

In addition to her work in music, Herzen worked in the vibrant New York City Theater scene in the 1980s as an actor, director, and an initial co-founder and dramaturg for the influential MCC Theater. Through the years, she has also worked as an art agent and script doctor for television. Having spent a lifetime in the arts, Herzen's commitment to high artistry in multiple disciplines can be heard on her own recordings and also in the work of the many fine artists she has signed to Motema.

Learn more at http://Motema.com

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About Motéma


“One of the most important jazz labels to plant its flag in the 21st Century.”
– All About Jazz

Respected internationally as an ‘art-first’ tastemaker, Motéma’s diverse catalog spans genres, cultures, and generations and has received GRAMMY ® recognition for over twenty-five albums in jazz, Latin-jazz, reggae and R&B.  Founded by label president and recording artist Jana Herzen, the label keeps a close eye on current musical trends.  It was Motéma that first brought soul/jazz superstar Gregory Porter to international acclaim with his GRAMMY® nominated first albums, Water and Be Good and his hit song 1960 What?. The label is also noted for launching international careers for jazz piano star Joey Alexander, modern soul singer Deva Mahal and Cuban music innovator Pedrito Martinez, among others Also in the label’s catalog are recordings by established jazz icons such as Randy Weston, Geri Allen, David Murray, Monty Alexander and Charnett Moffett alongside releases by exciting leaders in contemporary jazz innovation including Donny McCaslin, Mark Guiliana, Ben Wendel, Jaimeo Brown’s Transcendence, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science,  and more.