Home » Jazz Musicians » Akiko Tsuruga

Akiko Tsuruga

She’s “Sweet and Funky,” she’s “Cute and Bad”. A Composer. A Performer extraordinaire. The legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith describes her this way: “Akiko's playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world. Akiko is here to stay. ” Raised in Osaka, Japan, this talented musician began studying the organ at the age of three, at the famed Yamaha Music School. After discovering her passion for jazz very early on in her musical journey, Akiko launched her career immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. While living and playing in Osaka, she had many opportunities to perform with world-renowned jazz musicians from the United States. Meeting Grady Tate, in particular, was a life-changing event for Akiko. ‘

After landing in the mecca for jazz, New York City, it didn’t take long for Akiko to make her mark - It was during these early years that she had the great pleasure of sitting in, playing gigs, and eventually recording with jazz greats such as Frank Wess, Jimmy Cobb, Grady Tate and other top NY musicians. Her reputation ultimately drew attention of Lou Donaldson as he chose her in 2006 as his quartet’s organist.

But it was the meeting of organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith that proved to have the greatest impact on Akiko’s musical development and career. He became an important mentor to Akiko, and she considers him her greatest influence. She flourished and continued to be a constant draw on the NY jazz scene.

Akiko has ten albums as a leader to her credit. Her debut album in the U.S., “Sweet and Funky” ,was selected as a “Best album of 2007” in DOWNBEAT Magazine. Akiko has been a regular in the DOWNBEAT polls since 2008 - culminating this year with the 65th Annual Critics Poll, coming in at #2 in the “Rising Star - Organ” category. Hot House Magazine has just named her 'Best Organ" in the 2017 Readers Poll. Her albums have constantly placed in the top ten on the National Radio Jazz Chart.

Akiko’s newest excitement is a trio project features a jazz celebrity drummer, Jeff Hamilton and a superb rising guitarist, Graham Dechter, and their first recording, “Equal Time” will be released in June 2019. This thrilling trio will be performing 2 nights at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in May 2019.

Just take a listen to this dynamic performer, and I’m sure you will agree with the legendary Dr.

Read more

Tags

7
Live Review

Akiko Tsuruga Quintet at William Paterson University

Read "Akiko Tsuruga Quintet at William Paterson University" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Akiko Tsuruga Quintet Shea Center the the Performing Arts William Paterson University Summer Jazz Room at Home Wayne, NJ July 23, 2020 New York City area jazz venues have begun to make their first steps toward recovery through the vehicle of live streaming. While a band and audience sharing the same physical space and feeding off of each other's energy is an essential part of the live performance experience, for the foreseeable future ...

4
Album Review

Akiko Tsuruga: So Cute, So Bad

Read "So Cute, So Bad" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


On more than one occasion I've sat back while listening to jazz organ giants of yore and thought to myself, “they don't make 'em like this anymore." And while it's true that one-of-a-kind greats like Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Big John Patton, Brother Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, and Jimmy McGriff are gone for good, and nobody can duplicate exactly what they gave us, it's somewhat small-minded to ignore the fact that other talents are right in front of us, carrying ...

398
Album Review

Akiko Tsuruga: Sweet and Funky

Read "Sweet and Funky" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Jazz organ has been passing through a long period of experimentation, where well-behaved organists with superior chops have been releasing lean and muscular jazz, all well-conceived and executed. This creative direction in organ-based jazz is a positive development, expanding the application of the B3 in the vocabulary of the music. The music can be succinctly defined as “low fat (read “no grease ).

Like a bull stock market, organ jazz sometimes requires a correction, a recalibration based on ...

365
Album Review

Akiko Tsuruga: Sweet and Funky

Read "Sweet and Funky" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Get down, watch out and dig what pours forth from the Hammond B3 organ as played by Akiko Tsuruga. The possessor of a million dollar smile and a stage presence that makes one glad to be in the audience, Tsuruga is a killer player. Sweet and Funky is a pure mainstream release representing the organ trio tradition that is steeped in the blues and swings like crazy. Together with her band mates, guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer ...

Read more articles
100

Queen of the Organ - Lou Donaldson

Akiko's playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world. - Dr. Lonnie Smith

"Akiko plays her personality...intense, positive, energetic and joyous. She plays to make others sound as good as they possibly can. It is always a joy to share the stage with her and play off of each other's energy." I look forward to many more great musical experiences from her AND with her!" - Jeff Hamilton

Akiko Tsuruga ranks as one of the top organists around today. - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Read more

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lioness: Pride and Joy

Posi-Tone Records
2019

buy

So Cute, So Bad

Self Produced
2017

buy

Oriental Express

18th and Vine
2009

buy

Sweet and Funky

18th & Vine
2007

buy

Videos

Similar

Jimmy Smith
organ, Hammond B3
Dr. Lonnie Smith
organ, Hammond B3
Jack McDuff
organ, Hammond B3
James Spaulding
saxophone, alto
KJ Denhert
guitar, acoustic
Bill Heid
organ, Hammond B3
Dave Braham
organ, Hammond B3

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.