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Whoever coined the phrase “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has never met the bassist named SaNa. At age 50 she learned to play the bass and started her own band. Eight years later she released her 4th CD, Blues From the Heart. Not only did she write, sing, and play the bass on this CD, she also produced and engineered it in her own studio, SaNa Sounds Recording, LLC.

This collection of songs includes funky soul blues with a twist of old school rhythm and blues. The lyrics are vivid. Imagine a flying squirrel that’s afraid of heights or a vampire bat that can’t see at night. How many of us have been that confused in love before? That’s what you feel when you listen to “I Just Wanna Make Love to You.” The frustration of coming in fourth place in a blues band contest is so eloquently described in the title cut, “Blues From The Heart,” which is sung by her guitar player of eight years, Vincent Washington. I know you’re gonna love this CD. Don’t take my word for it. Listen for yourself. I’m sure you will be pleased.

Look forward to hearing great things about this lady bassist and her Band

The SaNa Band was one of the 16 bands that graced the Fat Matt's Blues Stage in Underground Atlanta for the Montreux Jazz Festival held September 1st - 3rd, 2006.

SaNa played a nice mixture of original tunes that kept the fans dancing and singing along. SaNa began playing the bass at age 50. Eight years later, she is a singer, writer, producer and engineer. It goes to show that it is never too late to follow your passion.

Get ready for the 4th SaNa Band CD, "Blues From the Heart". The song was written by SaNa and Vince. Vince sings the title tune. So, stay tuned. The CD will be released in November, 2006. Just in time for Holiday Gift Giving!

Today the SaNa Band showed how multi-talented they really are. They started off their 45 minute set with a welcome to the audience that was well researched, well written and eloquently presented. What a way to give thanks to the venue that hires you than to write and sing a song about it.

"Welcome, Welcome. Welcome to Reynoldstown.

Come on and have a good time while the Wheelbarrow Fest is in town.

Back in 1866, Reynolds, his wife and kids built Reynoldstown for the freed slaves to live.

Since 1966 at the Wheelbarrow Fest, Reynoldstown throws a party for all it's sponsors and guest.

Welcome, Welcome. Welcome to Reynoldstown. Come on and have a good time while the Wheelbarrow Fest is in town.

And what a good time it was!

SaNa Sounds Recording, LLC features a 3 hour Teen Blues Workshop and Jam Session the first Sunday of the Month from April through October. The Teens learn the foundations of the blues in the first hour and get on stage to play what thgey have learned in the second and third hour.

Along with SaNa, the workshops are facilitated by musicians in the Greater Atlanta area. They include Larry Griffith on drums, Biggg Shady on vocals, Linda Dixon on keys, Tommy Brown on vocals, Heaven Davis on vocals and MarK Alestra on bass. Side musicians are on hand to provide individual instruction to the teens. They include Tony Westmoreland on bass and harmonica, Doug See on guitar, Zip Code on drums, Alex Jones and Mud Cat on guitar.

At the end of the sessions the teens will perform at a music recital in November at Maddy's Rib Shack at 1479 Scott Blvd in Decatur GA.

SaNa Sounds Recording, LLC is open for business. SaNa Sounds records live bands - in house or out, spoken word and workshops. SaNa Sounds also provides digital recording, instrument and vocal lessons, musicians and background singers, marketing and promotion, manufacturing, distribution, radio play, and the SaNa Band.

The SaNa Band will tour the Fulton County Senior Multipurpose Complexes for Older American's Month. The tour begins at the Mills Complex on Friday May 6th from 10:00 AM til noon. The Band performs again at the Mills Complex from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Saturday May 7th for the Adult Day population. SaNa performs at the Darnell Complex on Saturday May 14th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, The Bowden Complex on Monday May 16th from noon to 2:00 PM and again on Friday May 21st from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The tour ends at the Benson Complex on Thursday May 26th from 11:30 AM - 1:45 PM.

For music lovers over 55, this is a great opportunity for you to come out and see your tax dollars at work, tour the facilities, and check out The SaNa Band. At each Complex, Fulton county residents participate in the activities for free. Activities include water and land aorobics; weight rooms; classes such as dance, computer, art, music, sewing, foreign language, and aroma therapy; reading rooms, hair dresser, doctor's offices, bingo, square dancing, field trips and more.

For addresses of the Senior Complexes, and information on SaNa's other performance locations and dates, visit the Calendar on the SaNa Site or call SaNa at 404 344-8893.

Not only does the woman play a bass, sing, and lead a band, SaNa also gives workshops on the healing properties of the blues. She did one on Friday April 22, 2005 at the African American Family Conference at the University of GA in Athens. Dr Sandra "SaNa" Foster took a day long workshop and presented it in one hour.

She started off by having the audience to close their eyes as she gently guided them back to the days of preslavery. She so vividly described the colors, the breeze, the peace experienced by a community of African men, women, and children; two parent families with grandparents present and respected; a village of citizens who worked together to create a peaceful, productive existence for one another. Then suddenly, a group of stangers violently yank them from their peace. They beat them, raped them, starved them, tied them up and stacked them on the bare floor on a slave ship.

Dr. Foster went on to descibe how the slaves were not able to communicate with each other because they either did not understand each other's dialect or they were not allowed to communicate with each other. She described one slave, who had a broken leg, that began to moan. Then she started to moan, as if she were the slave. The next thing you knew, the whole audience was moaning. And, you could tell their moans were authentically connected to the slave experience. To show them how the blues helps us moan today, Dr. Foster began to moan the issues relevant to us today; our troubled relationships with our families, mates, children, parents, friends, co-workers, and the larger society. The audience moans grew louder as she hit on specific topics. It was awesome.

The workshop went on to show how the lyrics of artists like Willie Dixon, Lightenin' Hopkins, Memphis Minnie, and Denise Lasalle helps one moan = cry out and bring deep seated pain to the surface for collective reality; mourn = a collective process of identification, empathy, and carthasis; and morn = arrive at a new beginning, a transformation, or a change.

Finally, SaNa delinated the stages and activities of a social work problem solving method based on the moaning, mourning, morning stages of the blues as developed in 1995 by Elmer P. Martin and Joanne Mitchell Martin.

She got the point across and probably got a few more Black people interested in keeping the blues alive in their practice with children and families.

Just wanted to take the time out to thank all of you for supporting the SaNa Band throughout the years. Whether you hired the Band, attended a show or workshop, purchased a CD or t-shirt, called a radio station to request one of our songs, visited the website, wrote a review, sent pictures, or spoke positively to others about the Band, we appreciate you.

We give thanks for the power, the strength, the knowledge, the skill, the will, the ability, and the opportunity for us all to be rich, happy, healthy, safe and successful!

Love you much,

SaNa

Who said seniors can't party? Whoever it was not at the Red & White Ball at the Bowden Center in East Point GA. From the first note to the last, they sang, danced, waved their hands in the air, and partied like they just didn't care.

The Blues Lounge, featuring the SaNa Band was packed. Sometimes it was standing room only as folk tried to squeeze their way into the few open spaces. It was on!

SaNa's newest hit "Independent Lady", received a standing ovation. Even the men were singing along. It was awesome. Dennis Lowe, the author of the song, was sitting in with the Band. Boy, you should have seen the look on his face as the song took off. According to Lowe, "Man, I never knew how many people that song would touch. I wrote it for SaNa. She is one of the most independent ladies I know. Guess she has lots of company".

Thanks to all the musicians and friends who came out for the benefit for Willie Hose. Thanks to the planning of Ian Nathanson, Bandleader of Men in Blues, the event was a resounding Success. Much thanks for Gene Kreeft, President of the Atlanta Blues Society, for donating his time and sound equipment, and to all the volunteers for your help.