Dana Reason (Ph.D., University of California San Diego) is a Canadian-born pianist, composer-improviser, and music scholar. In 2008 she moved to Corvallis OR. She is the director of Popular Music Studies at Oregon State University and is the founder and director of Between the Cracks Forum: Music, Sound & Interactivity.
Reason is an active performer, composer and recording artist. She has toured extensively throughout the U.S. Canada and Europe and appears on over 11 CDs from various labels. Her 2009 recording “Revealed” (recorded at the award winning Studio Piccolo in Montreal), received praise from Jazziz Magazine, Downbeat and Keyboard Magazine. In fall of 2011 Reason will release her newest album “Angle of Vision” exclusively on Itunes.” The release features virtuoso bassist Glen Moore (from the group Oregon) and drummer Peter Valsamis (L.A. drummer).
As a composer, Reason has written music for video games, promotional pieces, modern dance and film. Reason received a 2011-2012 commission from the OSU Wind Ensemble (under the direction of Dr. Chris Chapman) for her new work “Currents” which will premiere at the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Reno, NV 2012.
Reason’s research and teaching interests include 20-21st century contemporary classical and improvised music, women composers and performers, post 1945 jazz, hip hop, world, film and popular music. Her recent article: “Pauline Oliveros: Listening from the Inside Out” will be published in a forthcoming Anthology on Pauline Oliveros in 2012.