Noriko Ueda

Originally from Hyogo, Japan, Noriko Ueda began studying piano at age four and electric bass at sixteen, later switching to acoustic bass to pursue her passion for jazz. She studied jazz composition at Berklee College of Music and after graduating, moved to New York City where she built her career as a performer, composer and arranger. Ueda tours internationally with the supergroup Artemis, which was named “Jazz Group of the Year” by the Downbeat Readers Poll for three consecutive years (2023–2025). Their third album, Arboresque (Blue Note Records, 2025) topped the JazzWeek national radio chart for five consecutive weeks and the band was featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. She has performed with the Ted Rosenthal Trio for more than 20 years, completing over fifteen tours in Japan. Their recording “Out of This World” reached No. 1 on the JazzWeek national radio chart. Noriko Ueda’s first album as a leader, “Debut” (Terashima Records, 2015), highlights her work as a composer and bandleader. A longtime member of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and an active member of the Birdland Big Band, Ueda has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Village Vanguard, and Birdland. She received BMI’s Charlie Parker Award in recognition of her big band arranging and composing. Ueda has served on the faculty at SUNY Purchase College since 2022.

Awards

BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz composition Prize (2002)

Tags