Results for "Japanese"

Yoshie Nakayama

Born: March 24, 1980

Yoshie Nakayama, a music producer, trombonist, and singer, is known for co-founding Songs for World Peace, a global initiative leveraging music to promote world peace. 

Her a cappella composition "Sing For You" led the UNIVOZ Vocal Ensemble to win in the Adult category on WBGH’s “Sing That Thing!” and its music video was premiered at the Global Voices Film Festival San Francisco 2021, hosted by UN Women San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

Her arrangements are housed in the Japanese Library of Congress in Tokyo and are published by Sheet Music Plus, Fairy Inc., and the Jazz Vocalist Society of Japan.

Miho Wada

Japanese-born New Zealander Miho Wada leads her pocket-sized jazz orchestra on flute and saxophone, performing her unique style of music described in the media as "Afro-Cuban flute meets J-Pop". Growing up in the seaside town of Miyazaki, Japan and later Christchurch, New Zealand, she seamlessly blends stylish contemporary jazz with her unique pan-pacific flavour. After completing her Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance at the University of Canterbury, she moved to London for further study at the Trinity College of Music. She worked for the National Orchestra of Malta in Valletta for a short time before deciding to challenge her creativity and explore other musical possibilities

Jun Iida

Born: May 15, 1991

Award winning trumpeter, composer, and educator Jun Iida is known for his dynamic and versatile contributions to the jazz and contemporary music scenes. With an impressive array of performances at renowned venues and festivals across the world, Iida has built a reputation as a skilled performer and a dedicated educator.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri as the son of Japanese immigrants, Iida was immersed in a broad range of musical influences during his upbringing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Iida’s musical journey has taken him from Los Angeles to Seattle, and he is currently an active figure in the New York music scene. His performance credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center (Shanghai), Pit Inn (Tokyo), 100BAN Hall (Kobe), Smalls Jazz Club, Nublu, and Soapbox Gallery (NYC), as well as a number of prestigious venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, such as Sam First, Blue Whale, The Baked Potato, Gold Diggers, SFJazz, Black Cat, Benaroya Hall, and The Triple Door. He has also performed internationally, with notable tours in Canada, the US, and China.

Kaori Yamada

Born: December 23, 1971

KAORI YAMADA DRUMMER Jazz drummer Kaori Yamada was born in Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref., Japan. Kaori started to learn the piano at the age of 4 and she graduated from the School of Music, at Takamatsu Junior College, majoring in classical piano. Kaori began to play drums on her own initiative at the age of 14. She was particularly interested in Soul, R&B, and Jazz, music her brother was listening to at the time, and she developed a strong desire to become a professional drummer. From 1991 to 1995, Kaori was based in Hiroshima where she qualified as a drum instructor under the R.C.C. Takeshi Inomata Drum School at YAMAHA Music Shops, Chugoku Region

Mami Matsuura

Born in Japan, Mami Matsuura is a versatile pianist in the NYC area. She is a sought-after performer on various projects in many different styles of music. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in December 2019.

 Mami was selected as a member of the Piano Department Concert and was awarded the Jazz Performance Award while at Berklee. Mami is currently working as Keyboard 1 for CATS North American Tour. She is going to release her first original song in October.

Monday Michiru

Born: August 19

Monday Michiru (full name: Monday Michiru Mariano), so named to reflect her Japanese, Italian and American heritage, is also the genesis of renowned jazz musicians, NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi and cult jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano, as well as jazz saxophonist-flutist Lew Tabackin who helped raise her. While she showed natural talent playing flute from a young age, studying classically at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy on scholarship, her inspiration in music caught fire with singing, composition and music production. In 1987, Monday was scouted by Japanese movie director, Shinji Somai, to debut in the lead role as an opera singer in his movie “Hikaru Onna” (“Luminous Woman”)

Yuko Mabuchi

Born: June

In the world of music, there are artists who follow trends and those who create them. Yuko Mabuchi firmly belongs in the latter category. Hailing from Japan, she is currently taking the global music scene by storm, showcasing her awe-inspiring talent as a pianist while staying true to her roots.

At the tender age of four, Yuko found her rhythm in the world of classical piano in her hometown of Fukui. However, she didn't stay confined to just one genre. Growing up, she was drawn towards American R&B, Hip-Hop, and Blues, but it was jazz that struck a chord deep within her.

In fact, jazz captivated her so much that she dedicated her post-high school years to studying jazz piano. This early initiation into a multitude of genres fueled her music into an exotic mix, making it as unique as the artist herself.

Junichiro Mataga

Born: August 20, 1982

Junichiro Mataga is a Jazz Pianist, Jazz Composer, Arranger, and Educator based in New York City. He grew up in Niigata, Japan. He began playing piano when at six years old. He moved to Tokyo after graduating high school and began studying Jazz Piano in the University Jazz Club. He graduated from The University of Electro-Communications with a major in Master of Engineering and then worked as a Sound and Vibration Researcher at the Central Research Lab of NEC Corporation. In parallel, he was active in the Jazz scene in Tokyo, Japan. He performed in his leader band, the big band “Shiny Stockings”, the gospel band “7season”, and the jazz quartet “Beyond the Cinema”

Hanna Inui

Born: February 29

Hanna Inui is a Japanese pianist, composer, and improviser. Hanna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA 2020/Jazz Piano) from School of Jazz at The New School. Hanna’s music molds influences from classical, Japanese pop music, and Black American music, and has two distinctive characters; one being the punk, and the other being the healer. Hanna is currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, exploring solo piano performance, composition, electronics, texts, sound art, and movement designs, searching ways music can exist in this society where every (recorded) music is available for (almost) anyone to hear.

Yuto Mitomi

Born: January 26, 1984

Yuto Mitomi is a saxophonist, woodwinds player, jazz composer, and arranger based in New York City. As an internationally recognized artist hailing from both Japan and the USA, Mitomi has garnered acclaim for his innovative approach to jazz and a distinctive sound that blends tradition with modernity.

After moving to New York City and graduating with a BFA in Jazz program from The City College of New York, Mitomi began performing regularly in the local jazz scene. He has appeared at venues such as Antique Garage, Shapeshifter Lab, and Rockwood Music Hall. Since 2016, Mitomi has been a regular performer at Tomi Jazz, a renowned jazz venue in New York City with over 20 years of history.