Ana Hoffman, a Ghanaian-American jazz singer, recently debuted her latest musical tribute, “Life is Jazz,” as the headliner for the 48th Annual Bermuda Music Festival. Instead of basking in the success of the show, Ana went right back to work to create the next layers of the show, which has been developed on and off over the last three years. This project has been a passion of Ms. Hoffman since moving back to the US from Ghana in 2018. “I wanted to use the Harlem Renaissance and my interpretation of it to inspire us to achieve our own greatness. I believe that through art, we can express ourselves and ideas in a way that can speak to the souls of people,” said Hoffman.
Ana explores the Harlem Renaissance through the lens of jazz and poetry from legendary artists such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, and others to illustrate the magic of this movement. She skillfully takes the audience on a journey, invoking both the pain and joy that inspired many of the works from these great artists that we know today. Ana makes audiences feel as though they were there during this time period by interacting with them and giving them a sense of what it was like for African Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. At the same time, she updates the music taken from the jazz of the Harlem Renaissance era as only a modern master musician could.
Ana captivated the audience from her first number, “Bye Bye Blackbird,” where she showed total mastery of the art of engagement with her voice and charisma. However, her true gift may lie in her ability to tell a story or create a vibe that connects with one’s soul, as she did in the close to nine-minute version of Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.” As the Royal Gazette said, “Vocalist and narrator Ana Hoffman combined the multi-octave range of Cleo Laine, the sophisticated intimacy of Dinah Washington, the pure improvisatory brilliance of Ella Fitzgerald yet charging the music with a freshness, an excitement all of her own. And it was sheer fun.”
“This is a celebration of a very special period in U.S. history,” says Hoffman, “the birth of both jazz and black culture.” “I believe we are experiencing another Renaissance in black culture globally right now, and I intend to use this piece to project the past into the future,” she added. Ana’s goal is to inspire listeners to dream big like the artists who came before them. “Life is Jazz” is an inspiring musical tribute to the Harlem Renaissance that celebrates the spirit that stimulated a world of dreams for African Americans and produced one of the greatest art forms of all time: jazz!
About Ana Hoffman
Ana Hoffman is a Ghanaian American singer, actress, and voice over artist who believes it is the Artist’s mission to journey to places within themselves and beyond in order to come back and tell stories about humanity. With a bi-cultural and bi-racial background, Ana brings a unique perspective to her performances that captivates and inspires audiences.
Ana recently sizzled on stage playing the legendary Josephine Baker in Barry Manilow’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical, “Harmony”. She also made her film debut in the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary “Dick Johnson is Dead” by director Kirsten Johnson.
Ana’s career breakthrough came when she was handpicked by Henry Krieger to star in the revival of the Broadway hit musical “Dreamgirls” at the iconic Apollo Theatre in New York City. Since then, she has performed in a National Musical Tour, Off-Broadway, and at several venues in New York City, including The Hard Rock Hotel, B.B. King’s, Joe’s Pub and Symphony Space to name a few! As a skilled voice over artist, Ana has also lent her voice to various commercials and animated series.
As an advocate for striving towards black excellence, she aims to not only entertain but also shed light on the rich cultural heritage o the black community and encourage others to embrace their uniqueness while striving for greatness. Ana Hoffman’s journey as an artist is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence, and she continues to inspire others to do the same.
Life Is Jazz Press
Royal Gazette Interview
Royal Gazette Review
www.royalgazette.com/arts-entertainment/lifestyle/article/20221107/anas-jazz-was-sheer-fun/
TV Interview
fb.watch/hdO7u-Oz3-/
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