Mamiko Watanabe was born in Fukuoka, Japan and began studying piano at the age of 4 at the Yamaha Music School. In 1999 Mamiko received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music where she studied jazz piano, improvisation and composition. While at the Berklee College of Music she received several awards for Jazz Piano and Composition. In both 2002 and 2003 Mamiko Watanabe was a semi-finalist at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition in Montreux, Switzerland. Ms. Watanabe has toured Germany, Italy and Japan and performed with several jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Kevin Mahogany, Bobby McFerrin, Tiger Okoshi and Phil Wilson. Ms. Watanabe has recently moved to New York and has performed at many venues such as The Kitano NY, the Blue Note, Cleopatra's Needle, Triad NYC, Smith Jazz Bar, The Europa Club, The Lenox Lounge, St. Nick's Pub, Zinc Bar, 55 Bar and S.O.B.'s. Mamiko has performed in several Jazz Festivals in the United States, Europe and Japan. Ms. Watanabe's playing has been described as mature and creative with a good sense of dynamics. Mamiko Watanabe recorded her first CD, “One After Another” as a leader in 2005.
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