Jazz Articles about Tatsu Aoki

About Tatsu Aoki

Album Review

Robbie Lynn Hunsinger, Tatsu Aoki: Robbie Lynn Hunsinger and Tatsu Aoki Vol 1

Read "Robbie Lynn Hunsinger and Tatsu Aoki Vol 1" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
February 15, 2026

Chicago-based artist and educator Robbie Lynn Hunsinger is a restless experimenter. Trained as a classical oboeist, she is equally at home improvising on both the oboe and other woodwinds and strings. Some of these instruments originate from South and East Asian folk traditions and are rarely heard in jazz. Bassist Tatsu Aoki is equally innovative and brings a unique approach to creative music that is a perfect amalgam of east and west. Hunsinger and Aoki have long collaborated, and their ...

Album Review

Rami Atassi: Dancing Together

Read "Dancing Together" reviewed by Gareth Thompson

by Gareth Thompson
September 25, 2023

The Chicago-based guitarist Rami Atassi went on a south American journey with his wife to explore Mexico and Colombia. Amid the daily background music, he heard different styles and rhythmic foundations than those he was used to and took percussion lessons locally. All this later began seeping into his solo work. A Syrian-American, Atassi founded the Cosmic Dance Band in 2022, blending sounds of the Middle East with jazz harmony and modern sonics. This group and its combined ...

Album Review

George Freeman: Everybody Say Yeah!

Read "Everybody Say Yeah!" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
May 8, 2022

It took a long time (much too long) for listeners to recognize the brilliance that was Chicago saxophonist Fred Anderson. The New York-centric jazz cognoscenti have often overlooked talent that comes from Chicago, and artists were often drawn to The Big Apple to seek the recognition they deserved. Beginning in the '90s, though, the focal point of creative music shifted to Chicago and veteran musicians such as Von Freeman, Fred Anderson, and Harrison Bankhead, plus (then) younger talents, Ken Vandermark, ...

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Album Review

Tatsu Aoki: The Miyumi Project

by Mark Corroto
June 1, 2000

Of the wholly American art forms-jazz, cowboy movies, and fast food-jazz seems to have generated the most controversy as to its origins. Many believe jazz was given to the pilgrims by native Americans that first Thanksgiving during the halftime show. I hold to the theory that jazz came from New Orleans at the confluence of European, African and Caribbean cultures. From Buddy Bolden to Louis Armstrong’s migration to Chicago, jazz grew from the popular music of the day and ethnic ...

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Album Review

Tatsu Aoki: Basser Live

by Mark Corroto
February 1, 2000

Until the digital revolution came, bass solos sounded a lot like the opening of Saving Private Ryan, the band would layout while the bassist plays, “boom, hiss, pop, strum, pop, crack”...etc. And since the woofer has found popularity with not only b-boys but serious jazz fans wishing to hear that bottom end. Enter the bass solo album, a treat for stay-at-home listener. I have been partial to recent solo efforts by Dave Holland Ones All (Intuition), Michael Formanek Am I ...