Anjani
Encyclopedia
Anjani Thomas is an American
singer-songwriter
and pianist
, best known for her work with singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen
, as well as Carl Anderson
, Frank Gambale
, and Stanley Clarke
. She became a solo artist in 2000.
for a year then moved to New York City
to a pursue a music career.
She performed in jazz clubs before meeting producer John Lissauer, who hired her to provide backup vocals on Leonard Cohen
's influential song "Hallelujah" from Various Positions
. Anjani went on to tour with Cohen in 1985, as his keyboardist and backup vocalist, and has regularly worked with Cohen ever since, lending her talents to I'm Your Man, The Future
, and Dear Heather
.
Anjani launched a solo career with Anjani in 2000 followed by The Sacred Names in 2001 – an ode to the Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew names of God
. In 2006, Cohen contributed lyrics and production talents to Anjani's music and arrangements for Blue Alert
on Columbia Records. The song "Blue Alert" was used in a 2007 Old Navy
TV spot.
In 2011, Anjani began working on a follow up to Blue Alert
, which continues the collaboration with Leonard Cohen
on eight new songs. The new record, tentatively scheduled for release in early 2012, is being produced by Jerry Marotta
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, best known for her work with singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, as well as Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson (singer)
Carl Anderson was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.-Early life:Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of...
, Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
, and Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
. She became a solo artist in 2000.
Life
Anjani was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where she trained in guitar, piano and voice. She attended Berklee College of MusicBerklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
for a year then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to a pursue a music career.
She performed in jazz clubs before meeting producer John Lissauer, who hired her to provide backup vocals on Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's influential song "Hallelujah" from Various Positions
Various Positions
Various Positions, the seventh studio album by Leonard Cohen, was released in December 1984 . It marked not only Cohen's turn to the modern sound and use of synthesizers , but also - after her work on harmonies and background vocals on the previous Recent Songs - an even greater contribution from...
. Anjani went on to tour with Cohen in 1985, as his keyboardist and backup vocalist, and has regularly worked with Cohen ever since, lending her talents to I'm Your Man, The Future
The Future
The Future is a studio album from 1992 by Leonard Cohen. It has come to be recognized as his "film-score" album as nearly every one of the songs on the album has appeared in some notable form in a Hollywood film....
, and Dear Heather
Dear Heather
Dear Heather is Leonard Cohen's eleventh studio album, released in 2004.It shows a further departure from Ten New Songs, with more female lead singing and a marked increase in read poetry over sung lyrics, two of these being poems by other writers....
.
Anjani launched a solo career with Anjani in 2000 followed by The Sacred Names in 2001 – an ode to the Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew names of God
Names of God
Names of God, or Holy Names, describe a form of addressing God present in liturgy or prayer of various world religions. Prayer involving the Holy Name or the Name of God has become established as common spiritual practice in both Western and Eastern spiritual practices...
. In 2006, Cohen contributed lyrics and production talents to Anjani's music and arrangements for Blue Alert
Blue Alert (album)
Blue Alert is a jazz album recorded by Anjani, girlfriend and longtime backing singer of iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, who also produced the album and wrote the lyrics...
on Columbia Records. The song "Blue Alert" was used in a 2007 Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
TV spot.
In 2011, Anjani began working on a follow up to Blue Alert
Blue Alert (album)
Blue Alert is a jazz album recorded by Anjani, girlfriend and longtime backing singer of iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, who also produced the album and wrote the lyrics...
, which continues the collaboration with Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
on eight new songs. The new record, tentatively scheduled for release in early 2012, is being produced by Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta is a drummer currently residing in Woodstock, New York. He is the brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a well-known drummer and composer....
.
Discography
- Anjani (2000)
- Sacred Names (2003)
- Blue AlertBlue Alert (album)Blue Alert is a jazz album recorded by Anjani, girlfriend and longtime backing singer of iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, who also produced the album and wrote the lyrics...
(2006)
External links
- Anjani's Official Website
- Blue Alert Album Website
- Trusting the Force: Into the Heart of Blue Alert - Music Box, April 2007 (Vol. 14, #4)
- THE STORY OF "C"