Jim Szana's Bio

Piano

Dr. Jim Szana (pronounced "ZAH na" or known simply as Jim to friends) has been a dentist for 30 years in Pierre and Murdo, South Dakota. Before creating the Jim Szana Trio, he played solo for banquets, receptions and programs, till one of his patients, told Jim "there is nothing better than piano, bass and drums". His style, reminiscent of Ramsey Lewis, is the main ingredient to the trio's sound.

Jim is also a Viet Nam veteran and that experience has colored his world. The idea for the new album Good Evening Viet Nam, Reflections of an Era by his trio, did not just occur to him, rather it consumed and overtook him.

He feels it is time to revisit the musical scenery of that era. Jim’s musical style of combining songs

  

in unexpected delicate ways, really does allow the listener to make familiar things new. “But”, as Jim would say, “it’s like trying to capture moonlight in a net.” Additionally, Jim, who was the 2004 guest musician for the SD Acoustic Christmas Concert series, has recorded four CD's of solo piano.

Jim's wife Sandy created the "Good Evening Viet Nam" cover painting. His son and daughter live in Colorado.