Jana Reid Singer-Songwriter Realtor Jazz Singer |
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Author: Susan Pomfret
Photos: Jana Reid February 2019 |
Jana Reid and her partner, Gerhard Marzinski, left Toronto’s east end in 2002 to raise their family in the rolling hills of Northumberland County. “We’d always wanted to move to the country,” she says. “The city can be so anonymous. We wanted our kids to grow up with a sense of community, a sense of responsibility to someone other than themselves.”
They looked at many houses in many communities before finally settling on Campbellford. Not wanting to subject their son and daughter, aged 10 and 8 at the time, to the culture shock of relocation from urbanity to a remote farm, they purchased a stately Victorian home in town. Within four months of arriving, tragedy struck when Gerhard was badly injured in a car accident. It took him several years to recover from his injuries.
Jana Reid and her partner, Gerhard Marzinski, left Toronto’s east end in 2002 to raise their family in the rolling hills of Northumberland County. “We’d always wanted to move to the country,” she says. “The city can be so anonymous. We wanted our kids to grow up with a sense of community, a sense of responsibility to someone other than themselves.”
They looked at many houses in many communities before finally settling on Campbellford. Not wanting to subject their son and daughter, aged 10 and 8 at the time, to the culture shock of relocation from urbanity to a remote farm, they purchased a stately Victorian home in town. Within four months of arriving, tragedy struck when Gerhard was badly injured in a car accident. It took him several years to recover from his injuries.
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Jana began writing songs at 17, ”teen angst stuff,“ she jokes, and subsequently started a punk band with some school friends. When a producer at the studio played a recorded demo of their songs for another band, they contacted her immediately with an offer to join their project, a touring band. She jumped at the chance to learn more. Since then, she has explored most musical genres including pop, folk, blues, jazz and new country. Defining herself as a singer-songwriter rather than an instrumentalist, she decided early on to make the most of her natural vocal talents and studied opera with a vocal coach for four years. He saw such potential in her as a contralto that he subsidized the cost of her lessons, but she knew that opera was not where she wanted to be. “I couldn’t see myself singing the same parts over and over,” she says.
She fronted several bands over the years including an all original band and a jazz trio, and was heavily involved in the Toronto musical theatre scene throughout the 80's and 90's. She’s voiced commercial jingles as well as providing background vocals on hundreds of recordings. She produced some original albums as well, one of which received award recognition. The turning point came when she became a mom and decided to give up performing to raise her family. A serendipitous series of events led her to partner with a good friend, Elisa Amsterdam, who was living in Los Angeles at the time. Due to industry connections previously made, AMI Amsterdam Management hit the ground running. AMI was a full artist management company, indie label and publishing house who handled Juno award-winning country artists as well as the late actor Leslie Neilson. “Having big names on the roster allowed us to support up-and-coming artists,” Jana says. The long-distance arrangement worked well for them with Jana, as Vice-President, managing artist tours and other details while Elisa focused on Leslie. Sadly, Elisa was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and passed away a few short months later at the age of 46. Jana had the opportunity to relocate her family to Los Angeles, but she decided to stay in Canada and run the business for a few more years. She also launched Songbridge with Kathy Smit during this time. Designed to build connections between songwriters and artists looking for original material, the business enjoyed modest success, although the work was time consuming. “I had to listen to a lot of crap and reject a lot of submissions,” she laughs, explaining that the retention of the artists seeking material was dependent on offering only the highest quality songs. She personally listened to every submission from composers.
"After a few years, the business was just not making enough to support Kathy and I, and Gerhard was not back to work," she remembers. "I decided it was time to make a change.” |
Upcoming Shows
February 13, 2019, 7:30 pm
The Aron Theatre with Steve Holt on piano, Michael Monis on Guitar, Perry White on Sax, Howard Baer on Bass and Steve Dagg on Drums. Tickets $20. at Kerr's Corner Books, The Aron and online https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jana-reid-jazz-valentine-tickets-54498300885. 
February 16, 2019, 7 pm
Warkworth Town Hall LIVE MUSIC from the 60's and 70's, performed by THE BEACH BUMS: Andy Thompson, Jana Reid, Dan Washburn, Doug Huey and Matt Ray. Tickets: $55 +HST. Box Office 705-653-5508 or online http://bit.ly/westbenGV Jazz In The Afternoon
February 19, 2 pm Victoria Hall, Cobourg with the Bruce McGregor Trio http://www.concerthallatvictoriahall.com/VHshow_jazzintheafternoon.html |
She became a realtor with ReMax Eastern Realty in 2007. “I love it,” she says. “I’m always learning, and every day is an adventure.” Jana enjoys every aspect of real estate, from meeting new people and seeing the potential in homes to acting in the best interests of her clients. She particularly enjoys helping urban buyers to understand the complexities that need to be considered when purchasing a rural property. Closing a deal knowing that it’s the best possible outcome for her clients gives her a satisfied sense of accomplishment.
Local Legends: Janet Jeffrey, Jana Reid, Jane Archer
Music remains her passion notwithstanding her enthusiasm for her real estate ventures. Jana was one of the headliners at the Ontario Street Theatres Extravaganza in Warkworth last February. She appeared with Kilt Trip and other special guests at the third annual Ceilidh in support of Westben Festival Theatre at the Clock Tower in Campbellford, and partnered up with local legends Janet Jeffrey and Jane Archer for a celebrated show at Westben Festival Theatre. “I wish we’d recorded that,” she says.
Music remains her passion notwithstanding her enthusiasm for her real estate ventures. Jana was one of the headliners at the Ontario Street Theatres Extravaganza in Warkworth last February. She appeared with Kilt Trip and other special guests at the third annual Ceilidh in support of Westben Festival Theatre at the Clock Tower in Campbellford, and partnered up with local legends Janet Jeffrey and Jane Archer for a celebrated show at Westben Festival Theatre. “I wish we’d recorded that,” she says.
Her passion for jazz was reborn at the Westben Clock Tower during the Jazz Fringe Festival two years ago. She found herself onstage with local jazz greats, singing material she hadn’t performed in 30 years. The experience turned her in a new direction.
Although she had fronted a jazz trio in her younger days, she doesn’t believe that she was sufficiently honed in maturity or as an artist to be authentic in those days. Today is another story. Her contralto voice is “perfect for it” and she loves the genre.
Jana appears often at The Natural in Warkworth with Juno award-winners Steve Holt and Howard Baer. Owned and managed by Steve Holt, the shop holds Friday night Jazz evenings featuring local musicians and visiting guests.
Next year, Jana and Gerhard will mark 30 years together and they love their life here. They sold the house in town to her sister and brother-in-law, and bought a farm where they could take care of Jana’s mom. A second sister and brother-in-law landed here a few years later from L.A., and her brother and sister-in-law recently bought a home in town. “This is the place to be,” she quips. They keep four horses on the property, two of whom belong to a sister, grow organic garlic, raise free-range chickens and keep laying hens. Her busy and invariably interesting schedule leaves time for pleasure riding and also for belly dancing classes in which she “has a blast” with her sisters. It can be a challenge at times to find the uninterrupted hours she would like to have for her songwriting, but she pursues it passionately nonetheless.
Next year, Jana and Gerhard will mark 30 years together and they love their life here. They sold the house in town to her sister and brother-in-law, and bought a farm where they could take care of Jana’s mom. A second sister and brother-in-law landed here a few years later from L.A., and her brother and sister-in-law recently bought a home in town. “This is the place to be,” she quips. They keep four horses on the property, two of whom belong to a sister, grow organic garlic, raise free-range chickens and keep laying hens. Her busy and invariably interesting schedule leaves time for pleasure riding and also for belly dancing classes in which she “has a blast” with her sisters. It can be a challenge at times to find the uninterrupted hours she would like to have for her songwriting, but she pursues it passionately nonetheless.
In her words
Jana posted this on social media on New Year’s Eve:
"I hope 2019 finds you always in the company of those who make you laugh but not at the expense of others. People who know who they are and in turn respect who you are. Friends who have moved through the traumas in life and arrived at wisdom which they are willing to share. Friends you can learn from and who appreciate the lessons you offer as well. Open your heart to new experiences and have a Happy New Year!"
Jana posted this on social media on New Year’s Eve:
"I hope 2019 finds you always in the company of those who make you laugh but not at the expense of others. People who know who they are and in turn respect who you are. Friends who have moved through the traumas in life and arrived at wisdom which they are willing to share. Friends you can learn from and who appreciate the lessons you offer as well. Open your heart to new experiences and have a Happy New Year!"