Sana Nagano

Brooklyn-based composer Sana Nagano has a highly distinctive approach to violin playing, grounding chaotic improvisations with restrained precision. Formally trained in both jazz and classical traditions, she rips up the rulebook with projects such as the avant-bluegrass trio Astroturf Noise and 2021's Smashing Humans, which bears the name of her explosive prog-jazz quintet. Sana Nagano was born in Tokyo, where she began playing violin as a child, and moved to the United States as an exchange student. She earned performance and composition degrees from the Berklee College of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music of Queens College. Living in New York City since 2010, she's been highly active as both a collaborator and bandleader. She has played as part of Karl Berger's Improvisers Orchestra and Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra, in addition to working with artists such as William Parker, Daniel Carter, Harvey Valdes, and numerous others. Her debut album, Inside the Rainbow, was released in 2014, featuring Berger on vibraphone and John Ehlis on guitar. Nagano formed several ensembles during the decade, including avant-rock quartet Atomic Pigeons and experimental pop duo Peach and Tomato (with Leonor Falcon). In 2018, Nagano played on the Grammy-nominated self-titled full-length by pop star Shawn Mendes, as well as Berger's Tzadik-issued In a Moment and Coheed and Cambria's Unheavenly Creatures. Astroturf Noise, a mutated bluegrass trio with mandolinist Sam Day Harmet and bassist Zach Swanson, issued their self-titled debut album on 577 Records in 2020. The same label also released Smashing Humans, a 2021 full-length featuring Nagano's quintet of the same name, including saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum, bassist Ken Filiano, guitarist Keisuke Matsuno, and drummer Joe Hertenstein. The album's pixelated cover art was designed by Michigan-based artist Rachel Viola (aka dr!p). ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi