Jazz Articles about Junichiro Mataga

About Junichiro Mataga

Album Review

Japanese pianist Junichiro Mataga made the move to the United States in 2019 to study jazz piano. He completed his Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York. With that background and a good deal of success in competitions--the Lennon Award in jazz for songwriting in the jazz category for his “Escher's Staircase," his future is bright. “Escher's Staircase" is included in his second album, and the one at hand, ...

Album Review

Yuki Yamamura: View of 124

Read "View of 124" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
April 7, 2025

Japanese bassist Yuki Yamamura and his trio mates, pianist Junichiro Mataga and drummer Yosuke Nagayama, cut their teeth in Japan, studying jazz from an early age with top Japanese player-teachers. They now live in New York, soaking up and contributing to the sounds of the great city, taking in the View of 124. 124th Street that is, south end of Harlem. Their paths parallel those of generations of young jazz musicians from all over the world. Yamamura penned ...

Album Review

Junichiro Mataga: Sketches

by Jack Bowers
August 16, 2021

Sketches, the U.S. debut recording by Japanese-born, New York-based pianist/composer Junichiro Mataga, encompasses nearly an hour of genial contemporary jazz ably performed by Mataga, bassist Yoshiki Yamada and drummer Yosuke Nagayama. Even though he was quite busy as a leader and sideman in Tokyo, Mataga decided in 2019 to move to New York City to study in the jazz program at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Since graduating, Mataga has worked as a freelance musician in ...