Jazz Articles about Yasuko Kaneko

About Yasuko Kaneko

Album Review

Satoko Fujii Orchestra Kobe: After The Storm

Read "After The Storm" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
September 2, 2026

Pianist, composer and orchestra leader Satoko Fujii tends to resist comparisons between her career and that of Duke Ellington. The analogy, however, is difficult to avoid. At a time when maintaining a large ensemble is an increasingly rare undertaking, Fujii has led an astonishing number of them. Alongside her solo work, duos and quartets, there have been Orchestra Berlin, Orchestra Kobe, Orchestra Nagoya, Orchestra New York, Orchestra Tokyo and the Bunker Ulmenwall Orchestra recordings. Her command of large ensembles can ...

Album Review

Natsuki Tamura and Gato Libre: Sleeping Cat

Read "Sleeping Cat" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
August 1, 2022

Following the example of his partner and spouse, Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura has embarked on a year-long project of multiple, timed releases. Like his companion, Tamura has found that his trumpet is at home in numerous musical settings. One of his most popular ventures is the group Gato Libre which features Fujii on accordion rather than her customary piano; trombonist Yasuko Kaneko, a group member since 2014's DuDu (Libra), rounds out the trio. Since the inception of the group, Gato ...

Album Review

Gato Libre: Koneko

Read "Koneko" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
July 21, 2020

Gato Libre has long represented the anthesis of the larger Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii portfolio. Haunting melodies and striking improvisations have been the mark of the group throughout their quarter-century of work. Trumpeter Tamura and partner/accordionist Fujii have been the pillars of the group since its debut, Strange Village (Muzak Inc, 2005). Bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu passed away in 2011, and guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura in 2015, shortly after trombonist Yasuko Kaneko first appeared on Gato Libre's DuDu (Libra Records, 2014). ...