Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Anthony Ocaña was born in the Dominican Republic on March 7, 1980 and from an early age discovered his love for music. At age 5 he started taking piano and violin lessons and by 12 he began playing the guitar. He studied at the National Conservatory of Music of the Dominican Republic, received a scholarship to study at Manhattanville College New York in 1998.

While in New York he worked with Elliot Magaziner, the Frank Sinatra Orchestra conductor, and received the “Senior Josephine Morgan Award” for his professional and academic achievements. 

In 1999 and 2001, he opened for Gonzalo Rubalcaba at the National Theater of the Dominican Republic; in 2001 Anthony recorded his first album titled “A Paso de Cebra”  (Zebra’s Pace) and 2002 saw him moving to Madrid to further his study of composition and guitar.

By 2003 he was again at the National Theatre opening for Brazilian guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti, integrating percussion into his music. Ocaña has received several awards for composition, has performed over 50 concerts at all the major venues in Spain, in 2006 he released his self-titled sophomore project was released. He continues to perform all over the world playing concerts and festivals in conjunction with composing and recording.

ROBYN B. NASH

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