Miki Hayama

Miki Hayama is a GRAMMY Nominated piano/keyboard player, arranger and musical director, born in Kyoto, Japan, lives in NYC.

She graduated from Osaka College of Music where majored in classical piano, and studied jazz piano with renowned jazz pianist Sadayasu Fujii in Kyoto. After graduated from College, she started to work at many Jazz clubs in Kansai area. Her ambition to pursue Jazz didn't stop her but made her move to New York. Since 2003, Ms. Hayama has been busy making quite a respected name for herself on New York's jazz scene. She has toured and shared the stage with many greats —Kenny Garrett, Ralph Peterson, Sean Jones, Tia Fuller, Michael Dease, Vincent Herring, Bruce Williams, Roy Hargrove, JD Allen, Greg Osby, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Nnenna Freelon, Jazzmeia Horn, Christian McBride, Eric Harland, Gary Thomas, and even the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin to name a few. Her own 2006 sophomore release "Prelude to a Kiss" received a five-star rating in Swing Journal. Her 3rd studio album "Wide Angle" got Swing Journal's Gold Disc Award in March 2009, Best Production Award in January, 2010. She plays on many recordings as a side person includes on Tia Fuller's "Pillar of Strength" and "Healing Space", Sharel Casity's "Evolve", Mimi Jones's "A New Day" and "Balance", Michael Dease Big Band's "Relentless", Nnenna Freelon's "Christmas". She worked as a musical director as well as an arranger and keyboardists on Nnenna Freelon's new studio album " Time Traveler " which was released on May 21, 2021, and won the Grammy nomination.

"Miki Hayama is an amazing young pianist with great chops, a great harmonic concept and a great imagination ! " piano master Kenny Barron recently observed. She also plays Hammond organ with Gospel Choir at the Cathedral United Baptist Church in Bronx.

Awards

First prize winner at Yokohama Jazz Promenade Competition, Senzoku Gakuen Award, Swing Journal Gold Disc Award, Swing Journal Best Production Award. Grammy nominated for piano / keyboard, arranger and musical director for the Best Jazz Vocal Album " Time Traveler" By Nnenna Freelon