Musical and Performance Roots
Coming from a musical family, Elana Watson grew up on stage performing in theatres, cathedrals, churches, synagogues, festivals, and has been on television and radio shows in over 30 countries. She began singing at the age of five .
Music of the World
Elana has performed Jazz, R&B, African-Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Flamenco and other various Latin styles, Klezmer, Baroque, Celtic and the list goes on....She also sings in different languages. Her various recordings reflect some of these styles along with original sounds. She is a multi-instrumentalist including percussion, flute, piano and is now learning the harp. She has composed and arranged her own music and worked with partnering on a lot of reinventions of her mother's internationally known hits like "Awake O Israel" and "Jehovah Jireh". She has quite a few recordings made throughout the years that reflect all the variety of her musicality.
Professional Work
Elana was the featured soloist in a sold-out series of George Gershwin concerts with the Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra. She was likened to being a blend of Mahalia Jackson, Judy Garland and Lena Horne. She was the lead female soloist in the Vancouver-based Jazz swing band "The Bruce James Orchestra". She is now performing more of her original tunes for concerts in North America, featuring her latest album, "Rising From the Ashes"(a creative sound landscape of the Middle East conflic). Her new band now are called the "Salty Angel Kings" which is a mixture of Ethnic blues and Gypsy/Eastern Jazz. The band is an expression of joy.
Renaissance Woman
Elana is also an International Spokesperson , Hebrew Language instructor, Vocal coach, Artisan, Jeweller and Entrepreneur.
